A coalition of news organizations have asked a government oversight board to investigate the role of domestic spying in compromising journalist’s sources and ability to cover the news. Over 24 organizations are asking the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to find out the extent of surveillance of journalists; how the data collection is affecting the practice of news reporting; and policies and procedures in place to protect journalists and newsgathering. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, September 2, 2014, press release)
The Justice Department Inspector General released a report mid August that showed that the FBI is evading the Justice Department’s media guidelines in spying on journalists. The public isn’t privy to the exact details of the evasion since those details are classified. (Freedom of the Press Foundation, September 3, 2014, by Trevor Timm)