Journalists and media organizations are facing an unprecedented wave of legal challenges—with the potential to reshape press access and freedom. Settlements involving ABC News, ongoing defamation cases, and White House restrictions on press outlets over language choices test the boundaries of press independence. These tactics could disproportionately affect independent journalists and smaller media organizations, who often lack the resources to defend against legal pressures.
In a 75-minute webinar on Monday, April 7, Poynter’s Kelly McBride, senior vice president and chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, and Sitara Nieves, vice president of teaching and organizational strategy, will explore the best practices for safeguarding your journalism in today’s legal landscape with David McCraw, senior vice president and deputy general counsel at The New York Times, and Victoria Baranetsky, general counsel at the Center for Investigative Reporting (d/b/a Mother Jones/Reveal).
Poynter is proud to bring this tuition-free webinar to you as part of the OnPoynt series.
Journalists will leave this conversation with an understanding of where their work is most vulnerable and with practical tools to hold powerful institutions accountable and tactics to ensure their reporting is defensible in the face of legal attacks. You will have the opportunity to ask specific questions during this panel, but to protect the privacy of participants, this session will be structured as a webinar where participants’ identities are not visible.
With more than two decades at The New York Times, McCraw serves as the lead newsroom lawyer, providing legal counsel on major investigative and political stories. He is the author of “Truth in Our Times: Inside the Fight for Press Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts,” offering an insider’s perspective on legal battles shaping modern journalism. Baranetsky is general counsel at the Center for Investigative Reporting (d/b/a Mother Jones/Reveal), where she advises the organization on its full range of legal activities, including counseling reporters on newsroom matters (newsgathering, libel, privacy, subpoenas). She has litigated on various issues on behalf of the organization, including arguing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to CIR, Baranetsky worked at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the New York Times. She also clerked on the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
As the premier thought leader and trainer for the journalism industry, Poynter is committed to ensuring that all journalists and media organizations are prepared to provide their communities with the information they need to participate in civic life. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from legal and industry leaders and strengthen your understanding of press protections in an increasingly hostile environment.
Enroll now and be part of this crucial discussion.
Questions?
If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.
