The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

The record

Incidents in the United States, outcome upheld by a court

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort
CountryUnited States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180
ContinentNorth America
TacticSecrets and espionage laws 7Surveillance and subpoenas 3Detention and violence 3Shutdowns and blocking 3Prior restraint 1Expulsion and visa denial 1
StagePressure 1Punish 7Silence 3
OutcomeUpheld by a court 11
LevelNational 9Municipal 1State or province 1
Head of governmentAlfred E. SmithBarack ObamaGeorge H. W. BushGeorge W. BushRichard NixonRonald ReaganWoodrow Wilson

11 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
25 January 2013United States prosecutes former CIA officer John Kiriakou under the Espionage Act for identifying a covert colleague to a journalistUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsBarack ObamaUpheld by a court (3 February 2015)
6 July 2005New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed for refusing to name a confidential source in the Valerie Plame affairUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasGeorge W. BushUpheld by a court (29 September 2005)
8 November 1990United States federal court bars CNN from broadcasting recordings of Manuel Noriega's calls with his lawyersUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintGeorge H. W. BushUpheld by a court (18 November 1990)
1985United States: Espionage Act conviction of Samuel Loring Morison for leaking satellite photographs to Jane's Defence Weekly, 1985 to 1988United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsRonald ReaganUpheld by a court (1 January 1988)
12 April 1971United States police search a student newspaper's offices for photographs of a protestUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRonald ReaganUpheld by a court (31 May 1978)
1969United States Supreme Court rules reporters have no privilege to refuse grand jury subpoenasUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUpheld by a court (29 June 1972)
8 June 1925United States: Supreme Court upholds Benjamin Gitlow's conviction under New York's Criminal Anarchy Law, 1925United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsAlfred E. SmithUpheld by a court (8 June 1925)
26 June 1918United States convicts newspaper editor Jacob Frohwerk under the Espionage Act, June 1918United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (10 March 1919)
July 1917United States postmaster bars the magazine The Masses from the mail under the Espionage ActUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (1 November 1917)
1917United States convicts Mother Earth editor Emma Goldman of draft conspiracy and bars her magazine from the mailUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Detention and violenceWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (14 January 1918)
1917United States Postmaster General Burleson strips the Milwaukee Leader of its mailing rateUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (7 March 1921)
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