When investigative journalist Albert Serna sought public records about secondary, off-duty employment by El Monte police officers, he was was stonewalled. Other department released the info. What is the El Monte Police Department hiding? firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort last week was outrageous. "The First Amendment protects, above all else , the right to report the news and criticize the government," @davidloy.bsky.social tells Jade Hindmon of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social. ⬇️ www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...

Reporters: are you looking for an easy-to-use guide to publicly available data for journalists in California? Check out our new reporter’s field guide! firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...

The First Amendment guarantees the right of the press or public to observe, document, record and report on events that take place in public. FAC Legal Director @davidloy.bsky.social explains: firstamendmentcoalition.org/videos/repor...

Attacks like this by the federal government will never silence a free press. FAC joins the National Association of Black Journalists' condemnation of the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. #JournalismIsNotACrime nabjonline.org/blog/nabjout...

⏰️ LAST DAY TO SUBMIT A FAC AWARD NOMINATION! ⏰️ Submissions are due at 11:59 PM PT tonight. Submit your nomination here: firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...

📢 Attention Reporters! Our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California will point you to publicly available data on criminal justice, education, government finances, health, the environment and more. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/in...

Many police officers work side jobs. The public has the right to know what they're doing off-hours. FAC represents Investigate LA in lawsuit against the City of El Monte for refusing to release off-duty employment records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

Following the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist’s home, we've been getting a lot of quetions about what journalists can do to lower risk to their most sensitive data if they expect someone to snatch their device. freedom.press/digisec/blog...

Outstanding data reporting by Ari Sen and Brian New of @CBSNews.com and @howardcenterasu.bsky.social on how police officers' side jobs can have dangerous consequences for the public when secondary work policies aren't enforced. www.cbsnews.com/projects/202...

FINAL WEEK to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government Award! We're seeking the best examples of contributions to free speech, free expression, and advancing open government in 2025. Don't delay; submit a nomination now! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...

There were more than 100 fatal police shootings in California in 2025. FAC's guide gives reporters step-by-step help on how to cover them. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...

⌛ The deadline to submissions for a FAC award is 1/30! Don't delay, tell us what you think is the best contribution to free speech and open government of 2025. It's free to enter, and you could win $1,000! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...

Journalists have a First Amendment right to film police activity in public spaces, as long as you aren’t physically interfering with law enforcement operations. Contact our legal hotline if you need help with your rights covering protests. bit.ly/FACLegalHotl...

Using a search warrant to search a journalist's home is an extraordinary, and extraordinarily dangerous, step. We'll know more when the affidavit in support of the search warrant becomes public, but on its face, this is truly alarming. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Sharing publicly available information on X isn't a crime. FAC joined with more than 20 other groups in a coalition urging the House to drop the subpoena against journalist Seth Harp. cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...

Great public service piece in @laist.com on the Inglewood city council meetings in the middle of the day, when fewer people can attend: laist.com/news/politic...

You have the right to record police/law enforcement. @washingtonpost offers a roundup of experts, including FAC's @davidloysd, commenting on your rights: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

Attention reporters! Are you covering immigration enforcement in California? Could you use tips on accessing state and local public records, courts and detention centers? Get our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Immigration Enforcement. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...

The deadline to submit a nomination for a FAC Free Speech & Open Government award is coming up on January 30. See the rules and show us your best stuff!

When government meetings happen behind closed doors, democracy suffers. We fight every day to keep our government accountable to you. Because transparency isn't a privilege: it's your right.

Every open-records victory. Every journalist we help. Every policy win for transparency. It’s all powered by supporters like you. Help us close the year strong and start 2026 with the resources to keep fighting. 🙏 Donate today. firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

If you believe in open government, free speech, and accountability; support the work that defends it. Donate to FAC before Dec 31st. firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

Did you know you can attend most government meetings? Request public documents? We provide free resources to help Californians exercise their First Amendment rights. Knowledge is power. firstamendmentcoalition.org/resources/

Wishing you a wonderful holiday with family and friends. ~FAC Team

FAC fights for your right to speak, report, question, and know. As the year ends, stand with us. 💬 Donate to strengthen free speech protections in 2026. firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

Citing attorney-client privilege, SF Mayor Daniel Lurie refused to release records about his call with Trump that halted the plan to "surge" immigration agents to SF. The City's Sunshine Ordinance Task Force says this violated the public records act. missionlocal.org/2025/12/sf-d...

When you become a Democracy Watchdog Member, your monthly donation helps us shine a light on those who would silence dissent and keep the public in the dark. Become a monthly donor today — stand with us in the fight for an open and just society! firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

“The First Amendment protects, above all else, the right to criticize and even make fun of the government,” @davidloy.bsky.social tells BenitoLink about the settlement reached with the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. benitolink.com/county-reach...

Are you outraged by the violent assaults on freedom of expression, suppression of information, and the onslaught of attempts to undermine government transparency in rural, suburban, and urban communities across our great state? Help us fight back and give today. bit.ly/FACDec2025

This is "a matter of transparency and accountability and confirmation of what the sheriff's statements were claiming" says WiIlie Lubka of @buenvecino.bsky.social, who is suing Ventura County for records of a controversial federal immigration raid. spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-...

More than a year after investigative reporter Candice Nguyen requested public records from the CA Office of Emergency Services, she's still waiting for records behind the long delayed, $500 million NextGen digital 911 system. www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/r...

Our client Christopher Damien met refusals and stonewalling from Riverside County when seeking public records about deaths in its jails. S.E. Williams of Black Voice News and The IE Voice recounts a similar experience. blackvoicenews.com/2025/12/11/l...

Nominations for FAC's Free Speech & Open Government Awards are open! We know there’s some excellent work that's advanced open government and free speech out there his year. Tell us about it! Deadline for submissions is Jan 30. Submit a nomination today! firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025-fac-awa...

Our democracy depends on people willing to speak up. Stand with FAC to keep our First Amendment protections alive. Donate today: 🔗https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/?form=FACDecember2025

Daniel Maher wanted records and bodyworn camera video of his own arrest--in which officers broke two of his ribs--from Redding Police, but they refused until FAC intervened and got the records released. @shastascout.bsky.social reports on what the video shows ⬇️ shastascout.org/redding-poli...

What is Riverside County hiding? Investigative journalist Christopher Damien spoke to Fred Roggin on #therogginereport about his lawsuit against Riverside County for records about in-custody deaths at its jails: www.nbcpalmsprings.com/therogginrep...

At the First Amendment Coalition, we’re that advocate, fighting for the access journalists need to hold power accountable. Support transparency. Support press freedom. Donate today: 🔗https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/?form=FACDecember2025

"When people die in the government's custody, their relatives and the public have the right to review the government's investigation of that death," says Christopher Damien to the Desert Sun. More about our lawsuit against Riverside County ⬇️ www.desertsun.com/story/news/c...

VICTORY! We settled our lawsuit against San Benito County for its attempt to unmask Benito Beet Beat, a satirist on Facebook. The county withdrew the subpoena and is prohibited from reissuing it or taking any other action seeking to identify the authors based on the cartoon.

FAC represents journalist Christopher Damien and the New York Times in a public records act lawsuit against Riverside County for withholding records and information about deaths that occurred in jail custody. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

Join us in protecting the public’s right to know. Your support keeps government open and accountable. Donate today: 🔗https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/?form=FACDecember2025

The Modesto City Council revised its masks-at-protests ordinance, and it's worse. "Modesto’s journalists should not be forced to choose between protecting themselves from harm and risking arrest" says FAC's @ginnylaroe.bsky.social www.modbee.com/news/politic...

Requiring police-issued press credentials for @oaklandpoliceca press conferences is a threat to press freedom, not only for student journalists, but for any newsroom covering Oakland police activity. www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/28/o...

The First Amendment Coalition shines light on government secrecy—because transparency keeps democracy strong. 💡 Donate today to protect your right to know: firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

A First Amendment win! The court has ordered a temporary pause to the administrative subpoena to Meta seeking the identities of the Benito Beet Beat Facebook page authors. A new hearing is scheduled for 12/10 at 10AM. More about this case: firstamendmentcoalition.org/case/doe-v-c...

BREAKING: FAC has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent San Benito County from violating the First Amendment rights of two anonymous journalists who run Benito Beet Beat, a satirical news outlet on Facebook. firstamendmentcoalition.org/case/doe-v-c...

Daniel Maher asked Redding police for the bodyworn camera footage of his arrest, in which police used enough force to break his ribs. The city denied his request. FAC intervened. It shouldn't take intervention from a lawyer to get public records. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/re...

A big win! Today an appeals court ruled that plaintiffs cannot automatically hide their identities when they bring a defamation suit. "[T]he right to access court proceedings necessarily includes the right to know the identity of the parties." reason.com/volokh/2025/...

FAC teamed up with Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation for a workshop for reporters on how to use transparency laws in their stories, including ✅ covering protests ✅ press rights ✅ our new Reporter's Field Guides Read more & bring a FAC workshop to you! firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/su...