The Justice Network
The Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press
The Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press (RCFP)
A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal assistance to journalists since 1970. 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100, Arlington, VA 22209 • (800) 336-4243
or (703) 807-2100
RCFP executive director Lucy A. Dalglish
Lucy A. DalglishFreedom of the Press, a short history
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was created in 1970 at a time when the nation's news media faced a wave of government subpoenas asking reporters to
name confidential sources.
One case particularly galvanized American journalists. New York Times reporter Earl Caldwell was ordered to reveal to a federal grand jury his sources in the Black Panther organization, threatening
his independence as a newsgatherer.
Caldwell's dilemma prompted a meeting at Georgetown University to discuss the need to provide legal assistance to journalists when their First Amendment rights come under fire. Among those present,
or involved soon afterwards, were J. Anthony Lukas, Murray Fromson, Fred Graham, Jack Nelson, Ben Bradlee, Eileen Shanahan, Mike Wallace, Robert Maynard and Tom Wicker.
They formed a committee that operated part-time and on a shoestring (its first "office" was a desk in the press room at the U.S. Supreme Court). With support from foundations and news organizations,
the founders built a staff and began recruiting attorneys to donate their services.
An early member of the Steering Committee -- Jack C. Landau -- was a reporter- lawyer who covered the Supreme Court. In his spare time, Landau started the First Amendment Hotline -- the first
cost-free 24/7 legal guidance service for journalists involved in First Amendment and freedom of information issues -- and also located cost-free lawyers to the press aided by Steering Committee
member Fred P. Graham, a reporter-lawyer at the Supreme Court. Read more here
Reporters Committee on Wikipedia
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) is an American nonprofit organization, founded in 1970, that provides free legal assistance to and on behalf of journalists. A number of
prominent journalists presently sit on the organization's steering committee, including Dan Rather, and Judy Woodruff and, prior to his death, Walter Cronkite. Its offices are located in Arlington,
Virginia.
The RCFP actively aids in defending reporters facing subpoenas and court orders to disclose the identity of confidential sources. The Reporters Committee is also involved in a variety of First
Amendment, shield law, freedom of information, and other free speech activities, including state open records and meetings law compliance. The organization publishes a quarterly magazine, The News
Media & The Law.
In addition, the Reporters Committee files legal briefs on a variety of issues that affect a journalist's ability to gather and disseminate news and also maintains a 24-hour legal defense hotline for
journalists and media lawyers. Read more here
Freedom of Information
Ben Franklin and printing pressOne of the most significant activities that RCFP undertakes is promoting freedom of information in the United States is through publishing its Open Government Guide, which reviews the open records and open meetings laws in each of the fifty states. The guide includes expert commentary by attorneys in each state who are familiar with the provisions of their state's code as well as court rulings and informal practices that combine to affect the climate in each state for the public's ability to obtain copies of public documents and attend government meetings.
The Open Government Guide
The Open Government Guide is a complete compendium of information on every state's open records and open meetings laws. Each state's section is arranged according to a standard outline, making it easy to compare laws in various states. If you're a new user of this guide, be sure to read the Introductory Note and User's Guide.
RCFP, 2009 Legal Defense Report
2009, Legal Defense Report (RCFP).pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [384.3 KB]
Lorenzo v. City of Venice, Florida
2009 Legal Defense Report
Lorenzo v. City of Venice
RCFP submitted an amicus brief arguing in favor of a grant of attorney fees to the plaintiffs in a FOIA suit, stating that the lawsuit served the public interest by exposing violations of the law. A
Florida judge increased the fee award to a total of approximately $1.4 million.
From discovery, plaintiffs learned that a secret code had been developed to refer to the council members in case their emails were intercepted. The code used characters from Disney's Snow White animation film. Because there were 7 members of City Council, each of them were named after one on the 7 dwarfs. The Mayor's code name was Doc, the Vice-Mayor was named Happy, Council member Noren was named Sleepy, Council member Simmonds was named Grumpy, Council member Zavodnyik was named Bashful, Council member Tacy was named Sneezy. Airport Manager Watts was named Dopey. Council Member Sue Lang was referred to under the code name Snow White. Read more here on Wikipedia, with links to PDF pleadings
Why are the courts leaning on journalists?
The New Yorker Magazine
by Jeffrey Toobin
January 16, 2006
On December 16th, the Times, citing anonymous government officials, reported that the National Security Agency has engaged in extensive, warrantless wiretapping of American citizens in a secret
program authorized by President Bush in 2002. At a press conference three days later, the President defended the eavesdropping. "We’re at war, and we must protect America’s secrets," he said, adding
that the Times’ sources, by disclosing the program, had committed a "shameful act" that had undermined American security. Read more here
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