A day after President Obama ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to review the Justice Department's guidelines regarding interactions with the press, Free Press and a diverse coalition of civil liberties, digital rights and open government groups weighed in on the agency's treatment of journalists' sources and information.
A day after President Obama ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to review the Justice Department's guidelines regarding interactions with the press, Free Press and a diverse coalition of civil liberties, digital rights and open government groups weighed in on the agency's treatment of journalists' sources and information.
Representing millions of Americans, 62 groups signed the letter, demanding a full, transparent account of the Justice Department's targeting of journalists and whistleblowers. The letter and full list of signers follow below.
Among the signers were the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Communications Workers of America, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Sunlight Foundation and the Writers Guild of America East.
The letter asserts that the Justice Department's actions are not just a threat to press freedom, but to a healthy democracy. "The Obama administration promised a new era of openness and transparency," the letter reads. "Your actions, which expand secrecy and intimidate those trying to shed more light on our government, run counter to that promise."
The events of the past two weeks show why we need to engage the broader public in meaningful debate about the First Amendment and press freedom. Journalists can't win this fight on their own -- and they shouldn't have to, especially since there are now so many media makers operating outside of traditional newsrooms.
This was a key point in the letter: "Threats to press freedom threaten anyone who seeks to share information about official actions using a cellphone, social media service or website."
To that end, Free Press also delivered more than 16,000 petition signatures urging the Justice Department to protect press freedom. "The Justice Department's abuse of press freedom is appalling, and the consequences could be far-reaching," said Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron. "The broad range of groups speaking out today signals the beginning of a broader popular movement defending press freedom."
As the Justice Department begins its review, it should adopt a transparent approach that engages this larger movement and the public.
Read the full text of the letter and the list of signers below:
A day after President Obama ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to review the Justice Department's guidelines regarding interactions with the press, Free Press and a diverse coalition of civil liberties, digital rights and open government groups weighed in on the agency's treatment of journalists' sources and information.
Representing millions of Americans, 62 groups signed the letter, demanding a full, transparent account of the Justice Department's targeting of journalists and whistleblowers. The letter and full list of signers follow below.
Among the signers were the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Communications Workers of America, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Sunlight Foundation and the Writers Guild of America East.
The letter asserts that the Justice Department's actions are not just a threat to press freedom, but to a healthy democracy. "The Obama administration promised a new era of openness and transparency," the letter reads. "Your actions, which expand secrecy and intimidate those trying to shed more light on our government, run counter to that promise."
The events of the past two weeks show why we need to engage the broader public in meaningful debate about the First Amendment and press freedom. Journalists can't win this fight on their own -- and they shouldn't have to, especially since there are now so many media makers operating outside of traditional newsrooms.
This was a key point in the letter: "Threats to press freedom threaten anyone who seeks to share information about official actions using a cellphone, social media service or website."
To that end, Free Press also delivered more than 16,000 petition signatures urging the Justice Department to protect press freedom. "The Justice Department's abuse of press freedom is appalling, and the consequences could be far-reaching," said Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron. "The broad range of groups speaking out today signals the beginning of a broader popular movement defending press freedom."
As the Justice Department begins its review, it should adopt a transparent approach that engages this larger movement and the public.
Read the full text of the letter and the list of signers below:
A day after President Obama ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to review the Justice Department's guidelines regarding interactions with the press, Free Press and a diverse coalition of civil liberties, digital rights and open government groups weighed in on the agency's treatment of journalists' sources and information.
Representing millions of Americans, 62 groups signed the letter, demanding a full, transparent account of the Justice Department's targeting of journalists and whistleblowers. The letter and full list of signers follow below.
Among the signers were the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Communications Workers of America, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Sunlight Foundation and the Writers Guild of America East.
The letter asserts that the Justice Department's actions are not just a threat to press freedom, but to a healthy democracy. "The Obama administration promised a new era of openness and transparency," the letter reads. "Your actions, which expand secrecy and intimidate those trying to shed more light on our government, run counter to that promise."
The events of the past two weeks show why we need to engage the broader public in meaningful debate about the First Amendment and press freedom. Journalists can't win this fight on their own -- and they shouldn't have to, especially since there are now so many media makers operating outside of traditional newsrooms.
This was a key point in the letter: "Threats to press freedom threaten anyone who seeks to share information about official actions using a cellphone, social media service or website."
To that end, Free Press also delivered more than 16,000 petition signatures urging the Justice Department to protect press freedom. "The Justice Department's abuse of press freedom is appalling, and the consequences could be far-reaching," said Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron. "The broad range of groups speaking out today signals the beginning of a broader popular movement defending press freedom."
As the Justice Department begins its review, it should adopt a transparent approach that engages this larger movement and the public.
Read the full text of the letter and the list of signers below: