The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

06/12/2026

Interested in a good documentary? The 2026 DC DOX Festival, which runs through June 14 in Washington, D.C., features more than 100 films from around the world as well as post-screening discussions with the filmmakers.

This year’s festival includes “Seized,” a documentary exploring the 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record. Catch it tomorrow at 1:30pm: https://dcdoxfest.com/films/seized/

The slate of films also includes two documentaries that received free legal support from the Reporters Committee: “Who Killed Alex Odeh?,” which examines the unsolved assassination of a community leader, and “The Great Experiment,” a portrait of American life during President Trump’s first term.

Tickets for film screenings are still available — use promo code “FREEPRESS” for 10% off! Check out the full schedule: https://dcdoxfest.com/films/

06/11/2026

The Reporters Committee is suing the Trump administration for records that could shed light on whether officials followed federal law and internal U.S. Justice Department guidelines when arresting three independent journalists following their coverage of a Minnesota anti-ICE protest earlier this year.

RCFP attorneys argue that several agencies violated the Freedom of Information Act by unlawfully withholding documents related to the arrests of independent journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, and Shane Bollman.

The lawsuit is the Reporters Committee’s latest effort to bring transparency to recent cases in which the federal government appears to have ignored important legal protections for journalists’ records and unpublished work.

The lawsuit is RCFP’s latest effort to bring transparency to cases in which the Trump administration appears to have ignored press freedom guardrails.

06/10/2026

Reporters Committee attorneys are representing journalist Lauren Tomasi in a new lawsuit that alleges a Los Angeles police officer targeted and retaliated against Tomasi by shooting her with a rubber bullet while reporting live from last year’s protests against federal immigration raids.

The lawsuit seeks damages for the attack, which it says was a result of the LAPD’s “pervasive and longstanding” practice of using excessive force against journalists. A viral video of the incident sparked widespread outrage among journalists and press freedom advocates across the world.

“Journalists must be able to do their job,” said Tomasi, a U.S.-based reporter for Australian news network Channel Nine.

RCFP attorneys are co-representing journalist Lauren Tomasi after an LAPD officer shot her with a rubber bullet.

06/09/2026

When journalist Nick Bowlin asked an Oklahoma oil and gas commission for public records on wastewater pollution, officials said it would cost an eye-popping $149,000 to process his request.

Eventually, Bowlin teamed up with Reporters Committee attorney Leslie Briggs. Briggs sent letters to the commission on his behalf, making the case for the agency to turn over the requested records at little or no charge.

“Leslie got involved, and the records just started pouring in,” Bowlin said. “I was sort of struck by how swiftly things changed.”

Bowlin used those records to report on state regulators’ failure to stop toxic wastewater from leaking out of certain oil wells — which contaminated drinking water, damaged farmland, and killed cattle.

Read more about Bowlin's investigations and how the Reporters Committee's free legal help made it possible:

Using records obtained with the help of RCFP, journalist Nick Bowlin investigated regulators’ failure to stop toxic wastewater leaks in Oklahoma.

06/08/2026

🚨 The Reporters Committee is hiring a Communications Coordinator!

The position will support the day-to-day ex*****on of our communications work, with a focus on social media content creation and media relations.

Get the details and apply here:

Check out the full-time jobs, fellowships and internships available at the Reporters Committee.

06/05/2026

“It’s important to see just how vulnerable freedom of the press and freedom of speech are right now.”

In an interview with the Reporters Committee, director Sharon Liese discusses her new film, “Seized,” which explores the 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record.

Related: “Seized” is screening on June 13 in Washington, D.C., during DC/DOX Festival — grab your tickets today:

When the small town of Marion, Kansas, is thrust into the international spotlight after a police raid on the Marion County Record and the death of its 98-year-old co-owner, a fierce debate ignites over abuse of power, journalistic ethics, the future of local journalism, and the United States Constit...

06/05/2026

06/03/2026

New: The Reporters Committee joined a coalition letter to Indiana University administrators that urged school officials to demonstrate their commitment to robust and independent student media.

Led by the Student Press Law Center, the coalition called on IU to strengthen protections for editorial independence and to create a sustainable funding structure that cannot be used to influence or punish editorial coverage.

Last fall, IU attempted to stop the Indiana Daily Student from printing news coverage in the campus newspaper. Following widespread pressure — including from the Reporters Committee's Kris Cundiff — the school backtracked.

A coalition of 14 national journalism organizations sent a letter Tuesday to Indiana University administrators, urging them to act on a student media task force’s recommendations — and warning that the press freedom community is still watching.

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

Reminder: We're hiring a Michigan-based attorney for our Local Legal Initiative!

This position will advise and represent news organizations and journalists across the state in matters involving access to judicial records, freedom of information, and other First Amendment issues.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis — view the listing below:

Check out the full-time jobs, fellowships and internships available at the Reporters Committee.