Formerly jailed reporters to advocate for federal shield law, 6 pm June 1

More than a dozen reporters who’ve been fined, detained or jailed in their support of First Amendment liberties will gather at the National Press Club at 6 p.m. Monday, June 1, for a symposium in support of International Whistle Blowers.

Registration is $5 for Club members; $10 for the public.

“The men and women who’ve defended the First Amendment with their sacrifices represent newspapers, television stations, bloggers, film makers and editors. They’ve never assembled before. It is truly an historic occasion,” said John M. Donnelly, chairman of the National Press Club's Press Freedom Committee.

The event will be moderated by 1991 National Press Club’s National Freedom of the Press Award recipient Brian Karem. It will feature a panel discussion showcasing journalists Judith Miller, Vanessa Leggett, Libby Averyt, Jim Taricani, Josh Wolf, Lisa Abraham, David Kidwell, Sid Gaulden, Andrew Shain, Brad Stone, Timothy Crews and Bruce Anderson.

The symposium is sponsored by The National Press Club Journalism Institute, The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, The First Amendment Coalition, Expose Facts.Org, The Maryland Delaware District of Columbia Press Association and the Institute for Public Accuracy.

During the symposium, the group will discuss a national shield law to protect reporters from prosecution.

“Every state in the union has a shield law to protect reporters, and the National Press Club is on record saying there is every reason for the federal government to supply the same support for reporters doing their jobs,” Donnelly said.