28 29 Press Freedom Defense Fund Press Freedom Defense Fund Defending Whistleblowers Private citizen Rui Pinto was arrested in 2019 for his involvement in the so-called Football Leaks, which exposed shadowy financial transactions and tax avoidance schemes in European professional football. His subsequent whistleblower revelations, the “Luanda Leaks,” implicated the richest woman in Africa, leading Portugal to seize her assets in the country and Angolan authorities to accuse her of embezzlement and money laundering. PFDF continues to provide funding for Pinto’s defense, helping to bring about his April 2020 release from prison to home confinement, pending trial. PFDF LAUNCHES JOURNALIST EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM In June 2020, PFDF recognized a crisis in the landscape of journalism. Freelancers, local newspapers, nonprofits, and independent news organizations were reeling from the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many journalists continue to struggle with unemployment, illness, the needs of dependents and children, as well as the basic demands of meeting daily living expenses. PFDF distributed $200,000 in emergency financial assistance directly to journalists experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of the pandemic. Cash assistance of up to $1,500 per recipient was given in two waves. The majority of grantees were people of color and journalists from other marginalized communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. PFDF also partnered with the National Press Photographers Association to spearhead a Legal Advocacy Initiative, which provided financial support and civil rights legal assistance for reporters who were arrested or injured while covering the news, especially during the protests that arose after the police killing of George Floyd. PFDF convened a series of meetings with media law organizations, leading legal practitioners, and national and local news organizations to plan effective strategies. Those meetings resulted in the creation of a national study of police regulations by First Amendment clinics at law schools throughout the country, a database of police regulations in the 50 largest municipalities, training materials for police departments, and, in the near future, model policies. The roundtable discussion with Maria Ressa, NPR’s David Folkenflik, and The Intercept’s Betsy Reed tackled how those in power are using legal threats to silence journalists and whistleblowers and erode press freedom. They also examined the impact of these tactics on the exercise of fundamental freedoms and how the rise of disinformation in social media is contributing to this global trend. Lastly, the panelists spoke about concrete steps concerned citizens and other groups can take to support threatened journalists. Featuring: Maria Ressa, Co-Founder and CEO of Rappler David Folkenflik, Media Correspondent, NPR News Betsy Reed, Editor-in-Chief, The Intercept Introduction by Jim Risen, Director, Press Freedom Defense Fund Defending Against Subpoenas In May 2019, San Francisco police stormed freelance videographer Bryan Carmody’s home, taking a sledgehammer to his door, handcuffing him for hours, and seizing dozens of cameras, computers, and notebooks. The raiding of a journalist’s home to obtain his confidential sources was an alarming measure, and legal scholars noted that California’s “shield law” protects journalists against such attacks. A generous grant from PFDF helped line up Carmody with First Amendment and defense attorneys. All of the search warrants were eventually nullified, San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott issued a rare apology for the department’s actions, and Carmody received a settlement of several hundred thousand dollars. From top left, clockwise: The Intercept Editor-in-Chief Betsy Reed, NPR’s David Folkenflik, Rappler co-founder Maria Ressa, and PFDF Director Jim Risen. Still: Press Freedom Defense Fund