Happy World Press Freedom Day!

[*](https://www.flickr.com/photos/69258677@N00/482757867/) Here I am this morning on a DC rooftop.* Today is [World Press Freedom Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Press_Freedom_Day)! In recognition of the historical day there are various activities scheduled all over the world to celebrate the various press freedoms we have achieved in certain countries, but also to reflect on the decline of journalist rights throughout much of the world.I spoke to [Lucie Morillon](https://www.motherjones.com/radio/2006/04/morillon_bio.html) of [Reporters Without Borders](https://rsf.org/) last night and she explained to me that the situation has been getting worse throughout most of the world over the past ten years. In light of these deteriorating conditions, it is of the utmost importance that we are conscious of what it means to have a free press and think about what we can do both locally and around the globe to improve conditions for the people who’ve devoted much of their lives to helping disseminate information. So today, on World Press Freedom Day, think about what a free press means to you.Yesterday, several members of congress introduced a Federal Shield Law which would protect journalists from being compelled to disclose material related to their news gathering activities. The act is called The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, and you can read the bill itself and an analysis at the [ASNE website](https://www.asne.org/index.cfm?id=6583). Although there are a number of exemptions carved into the text, the bill looks promising and it would protect online journalists who are not affiliated with a corporate entity such as myself so I am feeling pretty good about it. I’ll be meeting with members of Congress and their staff early next week about the Free Flow of Information Act, and I am optimistic that we’ll see it pass in the near future. Tonight I’ll be receiving the Herbert Block Freedom Award from [The Newspaper Guild](https://www.newsguild.org/)! It’s quite an honor, and I am thrilled to be here in DC to accept it on World Press Freedom Day. And to think, if it weren’t for the US Attorney finally giving up on getting my testimony, I’d be honored with a freedom award while imprisoned – the irony!