Free press under attack: Protecting investigative journalism

Investigative journalism requires digging for information that someone wants hidden. Powerful forces seek to prevent access, from government officials to private citizens avoiding accountability for wrongdoing.

But breaking through those barriers has long been part of the job for investigative journalists. What’s changed is that the threats to free information and a free press have accelerated and intensified dangerously in the U.S. and abroad. From the smallest newsrooms to the largest news organizations, at protests and political press conferences, journalists face dire threats as they pursue their mission of informing the public. 

So how can journalists protect their ability to investigate while under attack? What’s the best defense? And what are the strongest strategies for protecting a free press? Those questions will be the subject of a wide-ranging program in partnership with Investigative Reporters & Editors, moderated by Angela Greiling Keane, editorial director of states and Canada for POLITICO, with panelists Amanda Bennett, former Director of Voice of America; Agnes Callamard, United Nations Special Rapporteur; and Nabiha Syed, president of The MarkUp. The discussion will bring together their experiences as press freedom advocates with their work in journalism, law, and human rights.

Registration is open for this program, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020. 

About the panelists:

Amanda Bennett is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, investigative journalist and editor. She was most recently Director of Voice of America. She is known for her award-winning leadership in investigative reporting at The Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Oregonian, and Bloomberg News. Amanda is the 2019 National Press Club Fourth Estate honoree.

Agnes Callamard is Director of Columbia University’s Global Freedom of Expression project and the Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. She has written on and been published widely in the fields of human rights, women’s rights, refugee movements, and accountability. 

Nabiha Syed is President of The Markup, and previously was vice president and associate general counsel at BuzzFeed, where she counseled on newsgathering, libel, and privacy matters worldwide. Under her leadership, the company successfully defended against libel litigation arising out of the publication of the Steele dossier.

About the moderator:

Angela Greiling Keane is editorial director of states and Canada for POLITICO, running policy and politics coverage for all regional teams. She was the 2013 National Press Club president, where she focused on domestic press freedom and government transparency and elevating women in the news business. She is president of the non-profit National Press Club Journalism Institute.

About NPCJI’s programs:

The National Press Club Journalism Institute has added weekly programming, a daily newsletter, a daily writing group, and other support for journalists since March, and has waived fees for everything due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you value what you’ve been learning from the Institute during this time, please consider a donation of $5, $10, or whatever you can contribute.