1A

'If You Can Keep It': The Press And The PRESS Act

Dec 2, 2024

Seth Stern, Director of Advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, joins media correspondent Sarah Fisher and veteran investigative journalist Catherine Herridge. They delve into the crucial need for the PRESS Act, which protects journalists from revealing confidential sources under government pressure. The discussion highlights the alarming challenges faced in securing press freedoms amidst political turmoil. Personal stories about the legal battles for source protection underscore the urgency of this bipartisan legislation to safeguard democracy and journalistic integrity.

34:13

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Episode guests

Seth Stern

Sarah Fisher

Catherine Herridge

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Quick takeaways

The PRESS Act aims to provide vital protections for journalists, ensuring they can safeguard confidential sources and promote investigative reporting.

Despite bipartisan support, the bill faces political hurdles, primarily influenced by concerns about national security and public trust in media.

Deep dives

Overview of the Press Act

The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, commonly referred to as the Press Act, aims to safeguard journalists from government surveillance and the compulsion to disclose confidential sources. Introduced in 2021 and reintroduced in 2023, the bill has garnered bipartisan support but continues to face challenges in the Senate. It emphasizes the necessity of federal protections for reporters, which are currently unavailable and leaves journalists vulnerable to legal pressures. The potential passing of this legislation is seen as a landmark advancement for press freedoms in the United States.

Intro

2min

Press Freedom and the PRESS Act

11min

Targeting Journalistic Protections: Political Strategies and Press Freedom

2min

Protecting the Press: Legal Challenges and Implications

12min

Trust in Media: The Impact of Technology and Legal Challenges

2min

Press Freedoms Under Siege

6min

A bill to protect journalists in their work has long had strong bipartisan support.

The "Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act," or PRESS Act, would shield journalists from government surveillance and from being forced to reveal confidential sources. It was first introduced in June 2021 and was reintroduced in 2023. It's passed the House twice but languished in the Senate.

President-elect Donald Trump has of course had a tumultuous relationship with journalists. Last month, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, writing that, "REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL."

Now, the PRESS Act is running out of time to pass before the end of the lame duck session. We discuss why press advocates say this legislation is urgent, and what comes next for the bill.

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1A

'If You Can Keep It': The Press And The PRESS Act

Episode guests