Explainers
Where does the United States rank on the World Press Freedom Index?
In RSF's 2026 World Press Freedom Index the United States ranks 64th of 180. Its rank by year since 2013, how the index works, and who ranks first.
Is it legal to ban reporters from the White House?
What United States courts have held about barring reporters from the White House, from Sherrill v. Knight (1977) to the 2026 CNN, MS NOW and Politico case.
What is "government censorship" of journalists? Methods, examples and outcomes
The methods governments use to restrict journalists, from prior restraint and licensing to shutdowns and prosecutions, with dated examples by country.
The Espionage Act and journalists: prosecutions, leak cases and the press
How the United States Espionage Act of 1917 has been used against the press and journalists' sources, from The Masses to Julian Assange, with outcomes.
What is a White House hard pass?
A hard pass is the standing credential that lets a reporter enter the White House without applying each day. Who issues it, how, and when it was revoked.
What is the White House press pool?
The White House press pool is the small rotating group of reporters who cover the US president in tight spaces. Who picks it, who pays, what changed.
Sherrill v. Knight: the 1977 ruling on White House press passes
Sherrill v. Knight (D.C. Cir. 1977) held that a White House press pass may not be denied arbitrarily and requires notice, a reply and written reasons.
What is the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)?
The Committee to Protect Journalists is a New York non-profit, founded in 1981, that documents journalists killed and jailed. Who runs it and who funds it.