The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press will be monitoring their legal hotline on Saturday, June 20 in lieu of the Trump rally and can help connect journalists with an attorney in Tulsa if they are arrested.
The webform in this link is the recommended way to reach them during weekday business hours, but in an emergency, journalists should call: 1-800-336-4243.
Contact RCFP if you:
- Have been arrested
- Are told to follow curfew orders
- Have questions about your legal right to cover protests
- Need help finding an attorney
- Are subpoenaed or asked for your work product or materials
RCFP’s tip sheet has practical tips for journalists to protect themselves before and during protests. View a print-friendly version here.
RCFP’s spreadsheet and map list curfew orders across the country and whether they include exemptions for the news media. They are updating this map as they learn more about these orders.
RCFP’s Police, Protesters and the Press guide covers journalists’ rights at protests to gather news generally, record (video or audio footage, photographs, etc.), and to protect equipment and materials from unnecessary search and seizure.
Almost every state has legal protections for journalists’ sources and work.
RCFP’s attorneys have received reports of law enforcement asking newsrooms and journalists for footage of protests. Read more about what reporters should do if they receive requests like this.