SPJ enthusiastically endorses the Journalist Protection Act

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2/5/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Rebecca Baker, SPJ National President, 203-640-3904, rbaker@spj.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Communications Strategist, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – The following statement regarding the Journalist Protection Act may be attributed to Society of Professional Journalists National President Rebecca Baker.

“The Society of Professional Journalists joins other journalism groups in supporting this legislation, which would make it a federal crime to attack or intimidate those reporting the news.

“We thank Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) for introducing this legislation, and we urge other lawmakers to support and vote for its passage. This legislation, if passed, will go a long way in protecting journalists who find themselves becoming targets because of the current climate. The rhetoric being spewed by some people in positions of power is dangerous to those covering the news — from small towns to large cities throughout our country and the world. It has to stop.”

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