Programs

  • Legal Defense and Research

    LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCHTHE COMMITTEE PROVIDES AROUND-THE-CLOCK, PRO BONO SERVICES TO ALL NEWS MEDIA. IT OFFERS FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH TO JOURNALISTS AND ATTORNEYS, FILES AMICUS BRIEFS, PUBLISHES NUMEROUS GUIDES AND MATERIALS, AND SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THREATS TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. THE COMMITTEE UNDERTAKES LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS IN ALL AREAS OF MEDIA LAW, AND ASSISTS JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WITH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS-TO-COURT CASES. AS SUCH, THE LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:PRE-PUBLICATION LEGAL SERVICES - THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO FREELANCE AND INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS INCLUDING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS.PUBLICATIONS - THE COMMITTEE PUBLISHES AND MAINTAINS A BLOG, VARIOUS ONLINE LEGAL GUIDES AND OTHER MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) WIKI, FOR GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING THE NEWS. THE COMMITTEE'S INTERNET WEBSITE PROVIDES CONTENT ON MEDIA LAW AND JOURNALISM, WHICH IS UPDATED ON A DAILY BASIS.FELLOWSHIP/INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS - THE COMMITTEE OFFERS LAW FELLOWSHIPS FOR RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES AND AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR JOURNALISM AND LAW STUDENTS EACH SUMMER AND DURING AN ACADEMIC SEMESTER.LITIGATION - THE COMMITTEE'S LITIGATION PRACTICE, WHICH INCLUDES ITS STAFF ATTORNEYS, COMPLEMENTS ITS TRADITIONAL AMICUS BRIEF WORK AT A TIME OF INCREASED NEED IN THE NEWS MEDIA FOR IMPACT LITIGATION AND PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE HAS A NETWORK OF LAWYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME, SERVE AS LOCAL COUNSEL ON AMICUS BRIEFS OR PARTNER WITH THE COMMITTEE IN OTHER WAYS.STARTING IN 2020, THE COMMITTEE EXPANDED ITS PROGRAM WITH LOCAL LEGAL INITIATIVE ATTORNEYS BASED IN FIVE STATES - COLORADO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA AND TENNESSEE - TO HELP LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS TO GATHER AND REPORT THE NEWS, GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND HOLD STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. THE STATES WERE SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 45 SUBMISSIONS THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED FROM OVER 30 STATES, REGIONS AND TERRITORIES NATIONWIDE AS PART OF A PROPOSAL PROCESS CONDUCTED IN 2019.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $3.8M