The rights journalists exercise — to film in public, to request government records, to refuse to identify sources — belong to every citizen. But unlike professional journalists, whose rights are defended by the Reporters Committee, the ACLU, and a network of press freedom organizations, ordinary citizens face the consequences of exercising those rights largely alone. As government conduct has grown more aggressive — masked immigration agents, surveillance of protesters, retaliation against public employees who speak out — the gap between legal rights and practical protection has widened dangerously.
This session, sponsored by the PBS Public Editor, brings together legal advocates and citizens who have exercised their rights at personal cost. A Part II workshop on Saturday led by the Freedom of the Press Foundation covers physical and digital security for non-journalists: how to document encounters with law enforcement, protect communications, and understand what protections actually apply.