Contact:
Onica Makwakwa
Executive Director
UNITY
(703) 854-3585
e-mail »

Karen Lincoln Michel
President
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.

McLean, VA - UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., a national coalition of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, urges Congress to pass H.R. 2102, The Free Flow of Information Act, also known as the federal shield law, and reject any amendments or changes that would weaken protection for a free press.

The bill would create a qualified privilege for journalists against revealing confidential sources under certain circumstances. "This bill ensures the public access to information while providing protection for journalists," said UNITY President Karen Lincoln Michel.

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the federal shield law on Tuesday, October 16. If approved the bill would give journalists a greater degree of protection in federal courts at a time when reporters face increasing pressure from federal authorities. The bill would protect journalists exercising their First Amendment responsibilities from subpoenas and threat of jail time driven by political agendas and efforts to conceal wrongdoing. At the same time, the bill balances these concerns against the legitimate interests for national security, law enforcement and right to a fair trial.

UNITY urges members of its alliance partners to contact their representatives by calling U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121. "There is an overriding public interest in passing this law," said UNITY Executive Director Onica N. Makwakwa.
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About UNITY: Journalists of Color
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance advocating news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenging its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation’s diversity. UNITY, representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, is comprised of four national associations: Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Native American Journalists Association.

In addition to planning the largest regular gathering of journalists in the nation, UNITY develops programs and institutional relationships that promote its mission. For more information on UNITY, visit www.unityjournalists.org, email info@unityjournalists.org or call (703) 854-3585.