The prominent journalist Abed Abu Shehadeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, has been released from Israeli custody after five days in detention. He was arrested on Wednesday by armed police and Shin Bet agents who conducted a nighttime raid on his home in the Israeli city of Jaffa. Abu Shehadeh’s detention was related to his reporting on the October 27 Israeli election and the role of Palestinian…
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The major U.S. television networks launched what was described as a boycott against TV pool coverage of President Donald Trump on Monday after the White House dropped CNN from the network’s scheduled pool assignment, escalating the administration’s assault on the country’s most prominent media organizations and press freedom. CNN was set to act as the television pool network accompanying the…
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A federal judge has blocked, for now, a Department of Defense (DOD) policy that limits press access to the Pentagon, the latest in a series of attempts by the Trump administration to restrict press freedoms in the building. The policy in question required reporters to be escorted onto the premises by DOD officials, and closely followed as they seek to speak with sources.
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The Trump administration has approved media conglomerate Paramount’s $111 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros., one year after Paramount and Skydance Media signed a similar merger that placed Paramount’s movie studio, streaming service and broadcast network CBS under the control of the multibillionaire Ellison family, founders of Skydance and close allies of Donald Trump. The Warner Bros. merger…
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The Trump administration has proposed a new policy that could require federal government employees to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in an attempt to limit damaging or embarrassing information from leaking to the press. Such leaks are a normal part of every presidential administration, as are attempts by presidents and their cabinets to limit what information gets out.
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Reporters Without Borders warns press freedom has fallen to its lowest level since the group began publishing its annual World Press Freedom Index in 2002. The index has charted how press freedoms have deteriorated in the United States and elsewhere over the past 25 years. The U.S. was ranked 17th in the world in 2002. In the latest index, the U.S. is down to 64th, falling seven places since last…
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