What We Do

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.

The Reporters Committee serves news organizations, reporters, editors, documentary filmmakers, media lawyers, and many more who use our online resources. For updates on our work, sign up for our email list, or follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

How we can help

We can help journalists and newsrooms anywhere in the country with public records and court access issues, subpoena threats, source protection, and other issues that may arise while newsgathering.

We operate a Legal Hotline that is available to working journalists and media lawyers seven days a week.

We conduct both general and specialty trainings for reporters and newsrooms on media law and newsgathering rights, public records, covering protests, vetting content, protecting sources, and more. To request a free training, get in touch by emailing us at training@rcfp.org.

Reporters Committee attorneys provide pro bono pre-publication review to freelance and independent journalists, including independent documentary filmmakers, through our partnerships.

We offer a number of fellowships and internships to build the next generation of free press reporters and media lawyers.

Through our Local Legal Initiative, Reporters Committee attorneys provide dedicated support to local journalists in states where we’ve identified significant need. Local Legal Initiative are attorneys based in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee and work with reporters and newsrooms throughout their respective states.

ProJourn is a program that helps connect journalists to outside pro bono attorneys at law firms or companies for public records and pre-publication review help, and business and operations and nonprofit compliance needs.

In short, no matter where a journalist is located or what services they need, they can contact the Reporters Committee for assistance.

Our work in the courts

Reporters Committee attorneys pursue pro bono litigation and other direct representations in matters that involve First Amendment, press freedom, freedom of information, or court access issues.

The Reporters Committee regularly submits amicus, or “friend-of-the-court,” briefs in state, federal, and U.S. Supreme Court cases where the news media brings an important perspective. Known for building broad coalitions of major news and transparency organizations, the Reporters Committee is a voice for the right to freely gather and disseminate information in the public interest.

Our resources

Reporters Committee publishes a number of legal guides for reporters and other media lawyers that are available free online on topics ranging from state and federal open government laws, reporters’ shield protections around the country, access to court documents and proceedings, and more.

Our attorneys and experts are available to offer comment on and analysis for stories with First Amendment and press freedom implications.