This election year in the United States poses particular and heightened challenges for journalists, as they face confrontations with law enforcement at demonstrations, raids on newspaper offices, and an increasingly hostile environment for many in the media.
The Committee to Protect Journalists is responding to the needs of journalists with an updated guide to legal rights in the U.S., including quick tips, First and Fourth Amendment rights, and information on covering the 2024 presidential election conventions, which are set for July 15-18 in Milwaukee (Republican) and August 19-22 in Chicago (Democratic).
CPJ’s advice and recommendations in the guide offer a high-level understanding of the rights of a journalist when confronted by law enforcement officers while covering a protests and political events. Topics include press credentials, trespassing rules, video and audio recording guidelines, and public access considerations.
Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, an unprecedented number of journalists and media workers have been arrested — often without charge — in what they and their attorneys say is retaliation for their journalism and commentary.
As of July 2, CPJ has documented a total of 51 arrests of journalists in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza and in the city of Jerusalem, claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as a capital, since the war began on October 7, 2023. Israel arrested 48; Palestinian authorities arrested three.
We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
Muawiya Abdel Razek
Freelance, Sudan
Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar
Daily Khabrain, Pakistan
Zayd Abu Zayed
Quran Radio, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Myat Thu Tan
Western News, Myanmar
Mardonio Mejía
Sonora Estéreo, Colombia
Hamza Al Dahdouh
Al-Jazeera, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory