Advocacy

RTDNA believes the role of journalists is to seek and report the truth on behalf of the public, and that a healthy democracy depends on a healthy journalism environment. It is our role as an association to advocate for policies on a state and local level that empower journalists to serve the public. We do this in partnership with our members, state and local journalism associations and other First Amendment groups.

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Rep. Jamie Raskin: Free press is vital to protect democracy
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted May 8

Rep. Jamie Raskin said journalists were essential to saving democracy around the world during his First Amendment Award acceptance speech earlier...

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Kristen Welker celebrates diversity of opinions during awards speech
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted May 1

Kristen Welker, moderator of Meet the Press, urged journalists to seek diverse opinions in an effort to promote the truth, during her First...

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Lauren Chooljian: Let's normalize mental health support for journalists
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Apr 24

Lauren Chooljian, a senior reporter and producer at New Hampshire Public Radio, advocated for mental health support for journalists during her...

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Marion County Record publisher: First Amendment is alive and well
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Apr 10

Eric Meyer, publisher of the Marion County Record, said during the First Amendment Awards last month that the support his newspaper has received in...

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Gio Benitez Describes Maui Fires During First Amendment Awards Speech
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards, News & Information,
Date posted Apr 3

Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and ABC News transportation correspondent Gio Benitez celebrated the power of the human spirit as he...

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Phil Williams, lifetime achievement honoree, cherishes 'crazy life'
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Mar 12

It was 3 a.m. when Phil Williams woke up his wife, Cheryl, a few months ago and told her not to worry. The police were at their front door. The...

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Jesse Walden salutes storytelling at First Amendment Awards
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Mar 11

Jesse Walden, recipient of a 2024 RTDNA Foundation Citation of Courage, recognized the power of storytelling in a speech at the 2024 First...

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WSJ editor honors Evan Gershkovich at First Amendment Awards
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Mar 10

Evan Gershkovich was arrested and jailed in Russia for seeking and reporting the truth. His Wall Street Journal colleague, Paul Beckett, called it...

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ProPublica editor cheers philanthropy in First Amendment Awards speech
Posted In: Advocacy, Awards,
Date posted Mar 10

The economic challenges of journalism are “grim” and “real,” said Stephen Engelberg, editor of ProPublica. But the success...

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RTDNA Applauds U.S. House For Passing PRESS Act
Posted In: Advocacy,
Date posted Jan 18

A statement from RTDNA President and CEO Dan Shelley: The Radio Television Digital News Association applauds the House of Representatives for...

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The Threat Imperiling Small-Town News
Posted In: Advocacy, Open Letters,
Date posted Nov 8

In 2023, a concerning trend is emerging in small-town America, where law enforcement and public officials have taken extreme measures to suppress...

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Why We're Optimistic About Cameras in the Trump D.C. Trial
Posted In: Advocacy, Open Letters,
Date posted Oct 31

By Dan ShelleyRTDNA President and CEO In early October, RTDNA and 18 other press freedom groups and national news organizations filed two key...

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