6 Sites to Start Following Ahead of World Press Freedom Day

by Rocky Parker · Published · Updated

Welcome to Blog Profiles! We regularly select a topic and handful of blogs that do a great job contributing to the conversation. As we prepare to recognize World Press Freedom Day (May 3), we are recognizing a few press freedom blogs to keep you informed. Do you have a blog that deserves recognition? Tweet our writers at @BeyondBylines.

May 3 marks the anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. Since its founding in 1993, “The historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as it was at the time of its signing,” according to the UN.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of U.S. adults believe that freedom of the press is extremely or very important to the well-being of society, according to recent Pew Research Center data. However, 21% say the media are not very or not at all free to report the news in the U.S.

The theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.” It will focus on enabling journalists to share stories of climate change and paths to a better future to create a more informed public. “They work on the frontlines of our collective fight for the health of our planet and our struggle for livable lives,” UNESCO says.

To show our support for press freedom, we’re highlighting several blogs and news sites dedicated to defending journalists, advocating for a free press, and documenting attacks against press freedom.

1. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. Its experts around the world report on press freedom violations and work to take action on behalf of those targeted.

The site provides the latest data on the number of journalists killed, imprisoned or missing around the world, as well as resources to ensure the physical, digital and psychosocial safety of reporters. News and alerts cover recent attacks on press freedom, legislation and more.

Here are a few recent posts:

Follow @pressfreedom on Twitter.

2. Free Press

Free Press, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit that focuses on the intersection of media and technology, which have large impacts on politics and society. As the site explains, “We focus on saving Net Neutrality, achieving affordable internet access for all, uplifting the voices of people of color in the media, challenging old and new media gatekeepers to serve the public interest, ending unwarranted surveillance, defending press freedom and reimagining local journalism.”

Articles on the Free Press blog cover topics like diversity in media ownership, local media, press freedom and the future of journalism.

Read these recent posts:

Follow @freepress on Twitter.

3. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP)

The RCFP provides legal resources, including pro bono legal representation, to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. It also runs a Legal Hotline for journalists and media lawyers and will create special event hotlines for major events like elections and the Olympics.

On the RCFP website, journalists can find legal guides on topics like shield protections and access to court documents. Search the blog for the latest posts on defamation laws, freedom of information, censorship and more.

Check out these posts:

Follow @rcfp on Twitter.

4. Knight First Amendment Institute

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University was founded in 2016 to safeguard free expression in the digital age. Its litigation, research and public education programs focus on free speech and social media; privacy and surveillance; and transparency and democracy.

The blog offers quick takes as well as deep dives, podcasts, essays, research and more.

Recommended reads:

Follow @knightcolumbia on Twitter.

5. Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF)

The FPF is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and defending the First and Fourth Amendment rights guaranteed to the press. In addition to advocating for press freedom, the organization has developed encryption tools for journalists, trains newsrooms on digital security and documents attacks against the press.

On the site, journalists and newsroom leaders can find guides and training on topics like online harassment, mobile security tips, email encryption and more. The blog covers the latest updates on leaks, surveillance, whistleblowers, etc.

Read these recent posts:

Follow @FreedomofPress on Twitter.

6. U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

This nonpartisan site, run by CPJ and FPF, provides the latest data on press freedom violations in the U.S. The tracker was launched in 2017 and has “created a historical context of how First Amendment threats look in the U.S.” The site provides data export and API functionality as well as a data archive that is updated hourly.

Go down a rabbit hole with the data and check out the blog posts, which feature original analyses on press freedom trends and monthly incident roundups.

Here are a few recommended reads:

Follow @uspresstracker on Twitter.

P.S. Ever wonder how we come up with ideas for our blog profiles? Our handy list of industries and subjects on PR Newswire for Journalists stays top of mind. If you’re a blogger or journalist looking for media news, let us know. We can customize a newsfeed for you.

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Rocky Parker
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Rocky Parker is the Manager of Audience and Journalist Engagement at Cision PR Newswire. She's been with the company since 2010 and has worked with journalists and bloggers as well as PR and comms professionals. Outside of work, she can be found trying a new recipe, binging a new show, or cuddling with her pitbull, Hudson.

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