In 2024, the U.S. Justice Department made an alarming claim. In a bid to obstruct reporting on the prosecution of a Michigan man accused of terrorism, it argued that documentaries don’t count as journalism, and should not enjoy journalistic privilege. Speakers examine the case of Trevor Aaronson, The Intercept reporter who is battling this claim, and other cases in which prosecutors have taken it upon themselves to define what is legitimate journalism. This panel explores the implications of prosecutors’ attempts to narrow the scope of protected journalism, and the stakes for documentary filmmakers and others whose work falls outside the boundaries of traditional news organizations.