by Mike Blinder
As threats to journalism grow louder across the U.S., a coalition of journalists, nonprofit leaders and press advocates has united to push back urgently. Press Freedom United, launched earlier this year, is more than a campaign. It’s a coordinated, grassroots movement to protect the foundations of American democracy by defending journalism itself.
Three key voices behind the initiative — Sally Lehrman (CEO, The Trust Project), Anh-Thu Vo (manager of Research and Advocacy, PEN America), and Daniel Williams (CEO, BlueLena) — recently joined Editor & Publisher’s Mike Blinder for a conversation about why this movement matters now, and how news publishers across the country can get involved.
An industry-wide call to action
The threats to press freedom in the U.S. are no longer theoretical. According to Lehrman, what triggered the Press Freedom United movement was an accumulation of incidents that were too serious to ignore. “We can trace these overall attacks on press freedom from lawsuits against Gannett, the Des Moines Register, CBS, ABC and then the defunding of USAGM and the shuttering of Voice of America,” she said. “News leaders typically shy away from any kind of advocacy, but the hundreds of signatures we’ve collected so far just speak volumes about the gravity of the situation.”
Williams emphasized that this wasn’t just another advocacy campaign. “We felt like there was both a need and an opportunity and an imperative to raise public awareness about what is going on,” he explained. “So, we wanted to do something a little more public-facing, where we could encourage members of communities across the U.S. to join the movement by signing on.”
Documented danger and deepening concern
Vo, whose work at PEN America includes tracking threats to press freedom in the U.S., painted a sobering picture. “We’re seeing an increased attack on the press — legal threats, intimidation tactics, financial pressures — it’s a perfect storm,” she warned. “The U.S. government is deploying intimidation tactics to directly censor and silence journalists and news outlets.”
She pointed to the defunding of the U.S. Agency for Global Media as a glaring example. “President Trump issued an executive order eliminating USAGM, which effectively lays off a significant portion of their staff,” Vo said. “Journalists could be deported to countries where media is not readily accepted. They could face arrest, harassment, even torture.”
Williams added context from the publishing side, referencing House Resolution 9495, which he said initially galvanized his participation. “That would allow the government to designate a nonprofit organization as a terrorist group very arbitrarily,” he said. “We’re seeing a disturbing pattern of threats and overreach.”
A simple but powerful step forward
The coalition’s message to news publishers is direct: sign the open letter and amplify the message. “Start by signing this letter,” Lehrman urged. “All it takes is to pull up that URL. We already have 442 signers — 77 journalists, 74 news outlets, 59 executives, 27 journalism-serving organizations and 71 faculty members.”
The campaign also includes resources for publishers to share the message in their own voice. “We’ve provided a series of assets and communications materials that publishers can take and use to broadcast this message to their audiences,” Williams said. “It’s not just about awareness; it’s about building momentum.”
And for those who want to go further? “Support public media,” Lehrman said. “Write a column, give a talk, donate. They are the first to be under attack. And continue to do the best journalism you can. Tell people how you report, how you confirm sources and how your ethics keep you nonpartisan.”
A rising movement, with room for more
While the mission is urgent, the tone of the conversation wasn’t defeatist; it was resolute. “Although the situation is bleak, there are different avenues that we are going down,” said Vo. “Litigation, congressional advocacy — there’s momentum. And it’s great to see so many different folks getting into this fight.”
The coalition has deliberately kept the open letter broad to remain adaptable as circumstances evolve. “We’re not addressing a specific set of actions,” Williams said. “So much is changing by the day. But the urgency remains the same.”
For publishers looking for a reason to engage, the answer may be simple: If not us, who? “Why should each one of us jump in? Because we’re next,” Lehrman warned. “Don’t let this disinformation about journalism seep into people’s minds. If we don’t act now, we risk being picked off one by one.”
Press Freedom United is growing. With more signatures, louder voices and wider visibility, the coalition hopes to turn this critical moment into a long-term movement for journalism’s survival.
Author: staff report
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