Reporters Committee announces support from Barr, Heising-Simons Foundations

On Tuesday, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press announced new grants from the Barr Foundation and Heising-Simons Foundation totaling $450,000.

“A free press stands as one of the cornerstones of American democracy, and it remains essential to educating the public and holding the powerful to account,” said James Canales, president and trustee of the Barr Foundation.

“We are grateful to both the Barr and Heising-Simons Foundations for their generous support,” added Reporters Committee Steering Committee Chairman David Boardman. “The Reporters Committee is dedicated to ensuring a robust free press, and these grants will help us serve the needs of journalists and newsrooms around the country.”

The Heising-Simons grant is a two-year, $300,000 commitment, and the Barr Foundation’s grant is for $150,000 over three years.  Both grants will go toward supporting the Reporters Committee’s mission to provide pro bono legal support for journalists.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the Heising-Simons and Barr Foundations to provide journalists who may not otherwise have access to legal services with the support they need as threats to press freedom continue to increase,” said Reporters Committee Executive Director Bruce Brown.

“Democratic societies require an active press as a means of ensuring accountability. And yet, we find ourselves in a time in which journalism is vulnerable,” said Brian Eule, communications director for the Heising-Simons Foundation. “We are so supportive of the Reporters Committee’s great work serving journalists and newsrooms to protect the freedom of the press, through its legal expertise.”

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The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was founded by leading journalists and media lawyers in 1970 when the nation’s news media faced an unprecedented wave of government subpoenas forcing reporters to name confidential sources. Today it provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. Funded by corporate, foundation and individual contributions, the Reporters Committee serves the nation’s leading news organizations; thousands of reporters, editors, and media lawyers; and many more who use our online and mobile resources. For more information, go to rcfp.org, or follow us on Twitter.

Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts and creative expression, to advance solutions for climate change, and to connect all students to success in high school and beyond.

The Heising-Simons Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people.