Your Rights
Know your legal rights as a citizen journalist. Select your jurisdiction to see relevant laws, protections, and recent cases.
Showing rights information for United States
United States
Press Freedom Index:
Rank #45
🛡️ Source Protection
Federal shield law proposed but not enacted. Many states have shield laws protecting journalists from revealing sources.
⚖️ Shield Laws
No federal shield law. 49 states and DC have some form of shield law or court-recognized privilege.
🎙️ Recording Consent
Varies by state. 38 states are one-party consent. 12 states (including CA, FL, IL, MA, WA) require all-party consent.
📋 Recent Cases
- 2023: Journalist arrested covering protest in Atlanta
- 2022: Phone records subpoenaed from reporters covering leaked documents
📖 General Guidelines
Regardless of your jurisdiction, these principles apply:
- Right to Record: In most democracies, you have the right to record events happening in public spaces.
- Source Confidentiality: Protecting your sources is both an ethical obligation and, in many jurisdictions, a legal right.
- Safety First: No story is worth your safety. Use our anonymous submission tools if you feel at risk.
- Verification Matters: Our trust tier system helps establish credibility through corroboration rather than identity.