NewsGuild of New York's Statement on Department of Justice’s Decision to Seize Times’ Reporter Records

06/08/2018

Yesterday the Department of Justice seized phone and email records of New York Times reporter Ali Watkins. These actions represent a deeply troubling violation of the First Amendment and of the essential role of the Fourth Estate: to question the levers of power, interrogate authority, and seek answers on behalf of the public.

The heightened pursuit of “leakers” under the previous administration was the first step in a disturbing trend of governmental incursion of the press. The decision by the DOJ to target a reporter’s private communications, seemingly without regard for its own rules to make “all reasonable attempts to obtain the information from alternative, non-media sources,” represents increasing interference and potential censorship of the press.

The NewsGuild of New York has worked tirelessly over 80 years to provide journalists with a voice in their newsrooms. We have long demanded that employers create safeguards for their journalists against attempts to influence their reporting. We must demand no less from our own government.

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