What We Do

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) is the leading pro bono legal services organization for journalists and newsrooms in the U.S. The Reporters Committee provides legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources at no cost to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists across the country.

From broadcast journalists to documentary filmmakers to independent freelancers, journalists of all kinds can contact the Reporters Committee for assistance — no matter what legal obstacles they face.

Keep up with the latest press freedom and media law news by subscribing to our newsletters, and follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Below, learn more about our legal services and how we can help.

Legal Hotline for journalists

Since our founding in 1970, the Reporters Committee has operated a 24/7 Legal Hotline that provides assistance to journalists with a variety of media law and press freedom issues, including routine newsgathering questions on public records, subpoena threats, protest coverage, and more. It’s also available in emergency situations, including when a journalist has been arrested.

We can help journalists and newsrooms anywhere in the country with public records and court access issues, subpoena threats, source protection, and other issues that may arise while newsgathering.

Defending press freedom in the courts

Reporters Committee attorneys pursue litigation on behalf of journalists and newsrooms in matters that involve the First Amendment, freedom of information, or court access issues — ensuring that members of the news media in need of legal defense have representation.

The Reporters Committee files friend-of-the-court briefs in legal matters affecting the newsgathering and publication rights of journalists, often building broad coalitions of major news and transparency groups to safeguard news media freedoms.

Reporting resources and legal guides

We publish a number of free online legal guides for reporters and media lawyers on a range of topics, including state open government laws, the Freedom of Information Act, reporters’ shield protections around the country, access to court documents and proceedings, and more.

We also conduct newsroom trainings covering a variety of topics, and offer pre-publication review for investigative stories, including documentary films, to reduce legal risk.

Policy and advocacy

As an advocate for the public’s right to know, the Reporters Committee advances policy priorities that will benefit journalists and the news media overall. Our priorities include shoring up anti-SLAPP protections, strengthening federal source protections, and amplifying model open records provisions around the country.

Local Legal Initiative

Through the Local Legal Initiative, an in-state Reporters Committee attorney provides local news organizations with the direct legal services they need to pursue enterprise and investigative stories in their communities. Currently, Local Legal Initiative attorneys are based in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

ProJourn

ProJourn, a program operated by the Reporters Committee, helps connect journalists to pro bono attorneys at outside law firms or companies for assistance with public records and pre-publication review, as well as business and operations-related legal needs.