Journalist Protection Act

This bill would make it a federal crime to intentionally hurt a journalist because of their work. If the attack causes injury, the penalty can be fines and up to 3 years in prison. If it causes serious injury, the penalty can be fines and up to 6 years. It also covers attempts to do these acts. The attacker must know, or have reason to know, the person is a journalist, and the act must happen while the journalist is doing their job or to scare them from doing it.

“Newsgathering” includes regularly gathering, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing about events or other matters of public interest.

• Who is affected: Journalists and anyone who attacks them because of their reporting.
• What changes: Creates a federal crime with fines and prison time (up to 3 years for injury; up to 6 years for serious injury), including for attempts.
• Where it applies: When the conduct is tied to a journalist’s reporting work or meant to stop it.