A View from the Field: Protecting Independent Journalism

We provide regular updates from the field as staffers work alongside our amazing allies and activists to create a just and equitable media system.

• On World Press Freedom Day, Vanessa Maria Graber co-hosted an event with PhillyCAM showcasing the documentary Steal This Story, Please!, a look at the work of fearless investigative journalist Amy Goodman. Vanessa Maria interviewed Goodman and the film’s Oscar-nominated directors, Carl Deal and Tia Lessen, for a TV special produced for PhillyCAM. Later, following a screening of the film, Vanessa Maria moderated a Q&A with the same group at the Philadelphia Film Society. Read the interview.
• Vanessa Maria also spoke at the Collaborative Journalism Summit at Temple University in Philadelphia. She began her lightning talk — “How the Philly Comunicadores Collaborative Is Supporting Spanish-Speaking Media Members” — by speaking in Spanish. Then she switched to English. “If you didn’t understand what I said then you can put yourselves in the shoes of the thousands of Spanish-speaking journalists, content creators, producers, filmmakers and communicators that are desperately looking for support, mutual aid, education and collaboration across the U.S.,” she said. Earlier this year Free Press teamed up with Centro Integral de la Mujer Madre Tierra, PhillyCAM and Temple University’s Center for Community-Engaged Media to launch Comunicadores, a collaborative of Spanish-speaking journalists, media workers, content creators and communications professionals in Philadelphia. Watch the talk.
• Jenna Ruddock took part in a Lawyers for Good Government webinar for the organization’s State Legislative Advocacy Academy. The academy focuses on teaching lawyers and law students how to influence public policy in their states. The conversation examined how lawyers can support existing efforts to limit the construction of data centers.
• Nora Benavidez spoke during an Amnesty International event in honor of World Press Freedom Day. In “The Press Under Threat: Protecting Journalism and the Public’s Right to Know,” Nora discussed the First Amendment-protected right to record government officials in public spaces and also delved into Free Press’ efforts to free Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara, who the Trump administration detained and deported.
• Nora also took part in “How Digital Bias Shapes What We Believe,” a look at how racial bias and misinformation on social media shape what we see — and what we believe. Nora offered strategies for recognizing and challenging harmful narratives. The talk, part of the L.A. county supervisor’s monthly series, took place at West Los Angeles College in Culver City.
• Mike Rispoli participated in the panel discussion “Lessons Learned from Organizing for Local News Policy” at the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit in Philadelphia. Mike and the other panelists provided guidance on how to advocate for strong news policies and build effective coalitions; they also identified the primary opportunities and threats on the ground.