The future of press freedom in the nation once regarded as a beacon of freedom and prosperity is increasingly uncertain. Once a symbol of legislative protection for the press and a strong advocate for freedom of expression and accountability, America now faces a troubling decline, watched anxiously by the rest of the world. This gloomy outlook is compounded by the rise in press violations documented in 2024 with the number rising by 40% compared to the previous year. A total of 43 violations were documented, making the United States the fourth-highest country globally, behind Turkiye, Russia, and Venezuela.

As protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza spread across college campuses nationwide, journalists—particularly student journalists—became frontline witnesses to the demonstrations. This position made them vulnerable to attack, with 11 journalists facing targeting because of their reporting. These violations range from physical assault, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and intimidation to digital harassment campaigns.

In May, Catherine Hamilton and Anna Dai-Liu, both reporters from UCLA's Daily Bruin, were assaulted by pro-Israel counterprotesters during a protest. The assailants used pepper spray, verbal abuse, and physical violence. While The Free Press Reporter Olivia Reingold faced verbal abuse and threats at a protest in Union Square, New York City, where she was singled out and harassed by protesters accusing her of being a "Zionist."

Our data suggests that journalists covering protests related to the Gaza conflict face risks from both sides of the political spectrum. This dual threat can complicate journalists' efforts to report objectively.

Alarmingly, from New York to California, Women Press Freedom documented repeated and concerning incidents of law enforcement ignoring or dismissing those reporting on the protests, resulting in unjust arrests and detentions.

From previous protests, most notably those following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, we know that journalists covering demonstrations in the U.S. face significant risks while trying to do their jobs—risks that often stem from the police. This year, we observed numerous settlements issued to journalists in Minnesota for violent acts committed by law enforcement during the 2020 protests. While these settlements did not include admissions of wrongdoing, they reinforced the consequences of mistreating the press. Officers cannot abuse their positions of power to attack or obstruct journalists' rights to report. Though financial settlements and commitments to train officers on press rights represent small victories, they are a step in the right direction.

In contrast, the failure of the Senate to pass the PRESS Act in 2024 is a major setback for press freedom. Despite its approval in Congress earlier in the year, the Senate’s inaction, combined with Donald Trump’s election, means the bi-partisan bill is more than likely dead. This means the courts can still force journalists to reveal their sources under threat of contempt charges - as seen in the cases of Catherine Herridge and Anna Wolfe.

Without the approval of the PRESS Act, investigative journalists will operate without a federal legal shield, allowing the government and powerful entities under investigation to take legal action against journalists compelling them to reveal confidential sources. Women Press Freedom urges Republicans who supported the bill to continue advocating for its passage, as the stakes for journalistic integrity and safety have never been higher.

As the United States prepares for the return of Trump’s administration, the safeguards and legislation protecting press freedom could face their greatest challenge yet. If Trump’s campaign promises regarding the media are enacted over the next four years, as noted in our report Trump v Harris, America’s press will face immense challenges ahead.