Press Freedom

Hope for Journalism

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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 5/18/26

Headline: “Opinion | Why one longtime media reporter still has hope for journalism”

“On ‘The Poynter Report Podcast,’ David Bauder reflects on four decades covering media upheaval and why he still believes in the work”

“There’s plenty to be depressed about when it comes to the state of journalism these days.

“Layoffs. Dwindling resources. A decline in audiences. And public distrust in the media partly sowed by a president who has done nothing but attack the press for the past decade.

“But it’s not all doom and gloom. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/poynter-report-podcast-david-bauder-journalism-business-hope/

To Leave Dungeon, Reporters Need Minders

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Article in AP by Jocelyn Noveck, 5/18/26

Headline: “The New York Times sues the Pentagon a second time over Hegseth’s media restrictions”

“The New York Times sued the Defense Department on Monday for the second time in five months, arguing that a requirement that journalists be escorted while on Pentagon grounds violates the First Amendment.  . .”

Read the full article at:

https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-new-york-times-lawsuit-df3330d202a87f41f25effc9ab96abab

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Article in The Guardian by Anna Betts, 5/18/26

Headline: “New York Times sues Pentagon again over ‘utterly unreasonable’ press restrictions”

Subhead:   “Trump administration unveiled sweeping restrictions on press access at the US defense department last September”

“. . .The Trump administration unveiled sweeping restrictions on press access at the US Department of Defense, which it calls the Department of War, last September. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/new-york-times-pentagon-press-restrictions-lawsuit

Local News Knows Prices

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Article in Media Matters by Allison Fisher, 5/12/26

Headline: “If you want to see how the costs of high fuel prices are adding up for Americans, look to local media

Subhead: Reporter: “Many are worrying about how they will adjust their budget just to buy gas”

“President Donald Trump’s war with Iran has caused oil prices to surge, spiking gas prices across the country. Local news outlets have spotlighted the various impacts these record high prices have had on Americans and the people and industries we rely on, from farmers and truckers to first responders, small businesses, and even our schools, among many others. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/fuel-files-rising-gasoline-oil-and-fertilizer-prices/if-you-want-see-how-costs-high-fuel-prices-are

Journalists Continue – in Spite of. . .

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Article in Poynter by Sydney McGarr, 4/11/26

Headline:  “Journalism students know the industry is struggling. They’re choosing to enter it anyway”

Subhead:  “Student reporters from across the country say they’re worried about layoffs, AI and shrinking newsrooms but still feel called to the work”

“The outlook for aspiring journalists is increasingly uncertain.

“Layoffs ripple through major U.S. newsrooms, local papers shutter at an alarming rate, politicians sharpen their attacks on the press and AI technology threatens to make journalists obsolete.

“Yet, 10,073 students graduated with journalism degrees in the U.S. in 2025, according to a report by Data USA, an open-source platform for visualizing U.S. government data. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/educators-students/2026/why-students-are-choosing-journalism/

More Media Not Giving-In

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Article in The Hill by Dominck Mastrangelo 5/8/26

Headline:  “ABC accuses FCC of violating its free speech”

“ABC is accusing President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of violating its First Amendment rights as FCC Chair Brendan Carr ramps up scrutiny of the Disney-owned outlet over the content it broadcasts. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5869900-abc-fcc-the-view-jimmy-kimmel-disney/

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Article in Free Press by Staff, 5/8/26

Headline:  “ABC Learns from Past Mistakes, Takes Stronger Stance Against Carr and Trump’s Censorship Campaign”

“In a filing made public on Friday, ABC accused Federal Communications Commission regulators of violating its free-speech rights and called out FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for attempting to punish the broadcaster for airing political content that displeased the Trump White House. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.freepress.net/news/abc-learns-past-mistakes-takes-stronger-stance-against-carr-and-trumps-censorship-campaign

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Article in Daily Kos by Oliver Willis, 5/8/26

Headline:  “ABC says F U to FCC”

“ABC isn’t rolling over after the Federal Communications Commission demanded the network to upend decades of precedent and hand out airtime to the right. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/8/800035851/media/abc-fights-trumps-fcc-demands/

Good, Real-News

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Photo courtesy of CJR Reed Brody

Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Susie Banikarim, 5/8/26

Headline:  “Amy Goodman’s Good Example”

Subhead:  “A documentary that resonates, why the press needs to pay more attention to Truth Social madness, and an impressive investigation from the Post and Courier.”

“. . .Goodman, now the host of Democracy Now!, is the star of Steal This Story, Please! But it is more broadly a film about independent journalism and why it matters, now maybe more than ever. Goodman turns out to be an ideal guide: relentless, fearless, and a natural storyteller with a matter-of-fact clarity of purpose and no apparent interest in self-aggrandizement or martyrdom. . .”

Read the full story at:

https://www.cjr.org/laurels-and-darts/amy-goodmans-good-example-documentary-truth-social-post-courier-investigation.php

Cutting the Real News?

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Article in Daily Kos by Oliver Willis, 4/6/26

Headline:  “Veteran journalist ‘concerned’ CNN will be next MAGA victim”

“Veteran journalist and CNN mainstay Christiane Amanpour is concerned that, if Republican donor David Ellison is successful in his attempt to take over CNN parent company Warner Discovery, the network could face a devastating pro-MAGA makeover. . .”

“During a panel of the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit in London on Monday, Amanpour expressed her outrage. . .”

“Clearly I’m concerned,” she said after being asked about recent comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he’s looking forward to an Ellison makeover. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/6/800034348/media/journalist-concerned-cnn-next-maga-victim/

Amy, Media, and Truth

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Article in Democracy Now by Staff, 5/7/26

Headline:  “This Week with Jon Stewart: Media For Truth, Not Profit with Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman”

“Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of ‘Democracy Now!’ and subject of the new documentary ‘STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!’ joins Jon Stewart on This Week with Jon Stewart to examine which stories get told and why, discuss the bargain the media makes in trading truth for access, and explore the power ordinary people still possess to organize and fight back. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/7/this_week_with_jon_stewart_media

Another Empty Suit in Court?

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Article in The Intercept by Bryce Covert, 5/6/26

Headline:  “Lawyer on EEOC’s New York Times Lawsuit Has History Battling Discrimination Against Men”

Subhead:  “A former EEOC commissioner said, “They’re putting out their best facts in this complaint, and the facts are pathetic.”

“The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a key achievement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the federal agency tasked with protecting American workers from employment discrimination, sued the New York Times on behalf of a white man claiming the company discriminated against him based on his race and sex. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://theintercept.com/2026/05/06/eeoc-nyt-lawsuit-discrimination-men/

No Alcohol-Reporting Allowed?

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Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Jem Bartholomew, 5/7/26

Headline:  “With Malice”

Subhead:  “Kash Patel’s FBI is going after reporters and news organizations for routine newsgathering practices.”

“. . .’Maria [Fox News], I’m happy to announce on your show that we’re not gonna take this laying down,’ Patel told Bartiromo. ‘You wanna attack my character? Come at me? Bring it on, I’ll see you in court.’ The next day, Patel’s lawyers filed a defamation lawsuit, in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking damages from The Atlantic, as well as naming Fitzpatrick in the suit. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.cjr.org/analysis/with-malice-kash-patel-fbi-routine-newsgathering-target-practice-atlantic.php

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Article in The Atlantic by David Graham, 5/6/26

Headline: “A Dangerous New Attack on Press Freedom”

Subhead:  “According to MS NOW, the FBI has launched an investigation into an Atlantic reporter.”

“The Trump administration’s war against freedom of the press has reached a startling new low.

According to a report this morning from MS NOW, the FBI has opened a criminal investigation focusing on my Atlantic colleague Sarah Fitzpatrick, related to an article she published last month about Director Kash Patel. Drawing on some two dozen sources, Fitzpatrick reported that people inside the administration and the bureau are deeply concerned about what they described as Patel’s unexplained absences and excessive drinking. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/kash-patel-fitzpatrick-fbi-investigation/687077/