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Alerts - United States

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United States

Colorado repeals criminal libel law

“Originally intended to protect the monarchy or aristocracy from criticism or insults, criminal defamation laws today serve all too often to obstruct scrutiny of the actions of those holding power and to deprive the people of the information they need to make decisions that will affect their lives for years to come,” said IPI.

United States

In Boston, journalist battles to keep sources confidential

Ed Moloney, an award-winning Irish journalist who has covered the conflict in Northern Ireland since 1979, and researcher Anthony McIntyre are fighting to keep their confidential sources secret.

United States

Draconian cyber security bill could lead to Internet surveillance censorship

"A blanket monitoring system is never an appropriate solution, nor is blocking or censoring websites that disclose information that is classified but of public interest," said RSF.

United States

Deputies use photo of reporter for target practice

Deputies at St. Bernard Parish targeted a black and white photo of Fox 8 News correspondent Lee Zurik’s face at a department shooting range. Zurick may have been targeted for reporting on electoral fraud in the department.

United States

Accreditation disputes at center of journalists' arrests in U.S.

Across the country, police repeatedly refused to acknowledge as a journalist anyone who did not have what they considered to be official accreditation, leaving freelancers and new media journalists particularly vulnerable, CPJ reported.

United States

SOPA poses threat to free expression, says CJFE

The measures contained in the Stop Online Piracy Act pose a more direct threat to freedom of expression online than they do toward piracy, and its impact extends far beyond the borders of the United States.

United States

Freedom House endorses Global Online Freedom Act

The bill, which would hinder the ability of U.S. companies to sell surveillance and censorship technologies to repressive governments, is crucial to the promotion of global internet freedom.

United States

After three decades on death row, Mumia Abu-Jamal won't be executed

The Supreme Court declined to consider the district attorney's bid to uphold Abu-Jamal's death sentence, effectively commuting the sentence to life imprisonment.

United States

Journalists detained, obstructed from covering Occupy Wall Street protests

"We are alarmed by New York law enforcement's treatment of journalists covering the eviction of Occupy Wall Street today," said Carlos Lauria, CPJ senior coordinator for the Americas.

United States

PEN American Center calls for press freedom at Occupy Wall Street sites

Police barred reporters from several news outlets from covering the clearing of Zuccotti Park in New York City, which has been occupied by protesters for over two months.

United States

Student journalists arrested in Atlanta

Alisen Redmond and Judith Kim were taken into custody while reporting on the Occupy protests and held for 14 hours.

United States

Journalists arrested while covering Occupy Wall Street protests in multiple cities

The latest incidents include the arrests of "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" photographer Kristyna Wentz-Graff during a demonstration at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and freelance journalist Susie Cagle in Oakland.

United States

Journalist in legal fight with Obama administration over sources

US District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema quashed the latest subpoena submitted by the Obama administration in a bid to force James Risen to testify about his confidential sources; the administration has appealed the ruling.

United States

Reporters arrested, roughed up while covering Occupy Wall Street protests

Many journalists have found themselves being prevented from covering the movement's activities.

United States

Old law used in controversial new way to get information for WikiLeaks investigation

The US government tops the list of countries that request information about users, with 4,601 requests received by Google in the second half of 2010.

United States

IAPA criticises boycott of Univisión debate by US presidential candidates

IAPA president says that "what deeply concerns us is not only the decision to boycott a news media outlet but that the decision has been made by people who in the future could assume the same attitude from a seat in the White House."

United States

New rules with limited protection for Net neutrality about to take effect

RSF considers some initiatives covered in the rules on Net neutrality published in the Federal Register to be encouraging, but feels there are also several shortcomings.

United States

Four years after the crime, two men get life sentences for Chauncey Bailey's murder

Yusuf Bey IV and his accomplice, Antoine Mackey, were sentenced to life in prison without parole for their involvement in the murder of the "Oakland Post" editor.

United States

Judge refuses to hold CIA in contempt of court for destroying torture tapes

A federal court judge ordered the CIA to pay all of the American Civil Liberties Union's attorney fees but refused to go any further, saying, "We need surveillance".

United States

Lack of police transparency in Chauncey Bailey case hindered freedom of information, says RSF

With the upcoming fourth anniversary of the death of Chauncey Bailey, RSF calls upon the Oakland Police Department to apologise for its behavior during the investigation.

United States

Call for removal of Global Gag Rule from House bill

"The Global Gag Rule has exacted a terrible cost in damage to the health of millions of women and the free speech rights of people around the world," noted Human Rights Watch.

United States

Court overrules anti-prostitution gag rule for US groups

Human Rights Watch urges the government to strike the "anti-prostitution pledge" entirely from US law, thereby ensuring that freedom of speech is safeguarded for both US and foreign organisations.

United States

State of Florida urged to reconsider media restriction measure

RSF called on Florida Governor Rick Scott to urgently withdraw or amend a measure curbing access to details of murders.

United States

Congress fails to protect reader privacy again

Congress has decided to re-authorise the expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act for four years without restoring safeguards protecting the privacy of bookstore and library records.

United States

Department of Justice asks reporter to betray source but spares one of its own whistleblowers

James Risen was served with a subpoena which says he is a witness in the case of a former CIA officer and must reveal his sources to the jury; if he refuses, he could go to prison for contempt of court.

United States

Book community urges Congress to restore safeguards for bookstore and library records

The Campaign for Reader Privacy is asking supporters to urge their members of Congress to reject an extension of a Patriot Act provision that gives the government intrusive powers to search library and bookstore records.

United States

University trustees urged to grant honorary degree to playwright

After one university trustee objected to Tony Kushner's nomination based on the playwright's purported views about the state of Israel, the board removed his name from the slate of candidates who will receive the degrees.

United States

Court decision ordering new sentencing for Mumia Abu-Jamal a "small victory", says RSF

The jury will only be asked to decide whether Abu-Jamal was given the right sentence, not whether he was rightfully convicted for policeman Daniel Faulkner's murder on 9 December 1981 in Philadelphia.

United States

WikiLeaks revelations about Al-Jazeera cameraman's detention in Guantanamo

Part of the US military's reasons for holding Sami Al-Haj was to obtain more information about an Al-Jazeera interview with Osama Bin Laden, a leaked US Defence Department cable reveals.

United States

Court rules NSA surveillance suit brought by PEN, partners can proceed

An appeals court ruled that PEN and its co-plaintiffs can challenge the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act, legislation that granted the executive branch the power to carry out illegal eavesdropping activities.

United States

NGO gains access to Guantanamo documents; 22 new charges laid against soldier accused of providing information to Wikileaks

The public interest group Judicial Watch managed to gain access to documents about the Bush administration's policies regarding the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.

United States

Reader privacy fight resumes in Congress

Just weeks before controversial portions of the USA Patriot Act are set to expire, a senator has reintroduced a reauthorisation bill that would restore protections for reader privacy that were eliminated by the Patriot Act in 2001.

United States

IAPA concerned over tension between Florida's new governor and the press

Correspondents covering government events filed complaints citing unprecedented controls over access to the governor and discrimination in the distribution of information.

United States

Obama administration to take steps to facilitate free exchange of ideas across borders, State Department says

The State Department said it would give "sympathetic weight" to those seeking to enter the US to fulfill speaking engagements, attend conferences and accept teaching positions.

United States

Justice department orders Twitter to disclose details of users linked to WikiLeaks

The subpoena requests information dating back to November 2009 about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

United States

PEN American Center calls on Smithsonian institution to reinstate controversial video

The National Portrait Gallery pulled the video, which artist David Wojnarowicz created to commemorate a partner who died of complications of AIDS.

United States

Communication commission adopts weak Internet openness rules

The "net neutrality" rules set broad principles but provide limited protection to users and providers of information or services.

United States

IFJ condemns "desperate and dangerous" backlash over WikiLeaks

IFJ accuses the United States of attacking free speech after it put pressure on the WikiLeaks host server to shut down the site.

United States

Two journalists arrested at "School of the Americas" protest

Journalists Kaelyn Forde and Jon Conway were detained for covering a protest at a U.S. military training centre at Fort Benning, Georgia.

United States

Decision against filing charges in CIA video destruction case deals new setback to right to information

The decision is all the more incomprehensible, notes RSF, as the CIA previously acknowledged that it destroyed 92 interrogation videos.

United States

RSF asks for new sentencing hearing in Mumia Abu-Jamal case

RSF strongly supports the petition submitted by defenders of the journalist, who has already spent half of his life on death row.

Iraq / United States

RSF calls for transparency following Wikileaks revelations

Pressure to prevent Wikileaks from releasing "classified" US military documents about the Iraq war is contrary to the principle of access to information, RSF says.

United States

In new blow to FOIA, Supreme Court refuses to consider illegal phone tap case

President Obama initially undertook to ensure respect for the public's right to information but his administration abruptly reversed its stance, RSF said.

United States

Pentagon issues new rules for Guantanamo coverage

"The new ground rules represent a positive first step in a dialogue between the Pentagon and the media but we are concerned by the control that the military continues to exercise over reporting," says RSF.

United States

IAPA surprised at libel suit filed by Florida politician

Politician Jeff Greene alleges that he was defeated in the primaries because of two newspapers' campaign to damage his reputation.

United States

Writers support Park51 project, religious freedom

PEN American Center members support the free exercise of religion as a fundamental benchmark of freedom of expression.

United States / United Kingdom

Freedom House applauds US law combatting "libel tourism"

At the same time, Freedom House urged England and other countries with weak libel protections to reform their laws and prevent "libel tourism" lawsuits.

United States / Colombia

Journalist Hollman Morris granted visa to join Harvard programme

"We're grateful to the State Department for moving quickly to correct the situation," said PEN American Center.

United States

Three months of oil spill but one version of events: How BP is obstructing media coverage

The media have often found it impossible to obtain verifiable, independent information, RSF said.

United States / Colombia

CPJ urges Clinton to reconsider journalist Hollman Morris's visa denial

The denial, based on a "terrorist activities" provision of the Patriot Act, is unsupported by any available evidence and may be based on misleading information provided by Colombian authorities.

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