About Us
Reporters Shield is an independent membership organization that defends investigative reporting around the world from legal threats meant to silence critical voices. Reporters Shield is for print and online media outlets as well as NGOs that report in the public interest.
Reporters Shield was developed by investigative journalists at the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and lawyers at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, with input from media insurance specialists. Pro bono legal support was provided by the law firms of Proskauer, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Reporters Shield is an independent nonprofit funded through its members and by donations from donors.
USAID contributed seed funding for the program to support media outside the U.S. Private donor contributions fund the program to support both U.S. and non-U.S. media.
For more information, contact info@reporters-shield.org
The Problem
A rise in legal attacks
Media around the world increasingly face the risk of expensive and sometimes existential lawsuits for reporting the truth. In the past few years, the number of SLAPPs — strategic lawsuits against public participation — has grown significantly. These suits are filed specifically to threaten, intimidate, and financially burden journalists. As a result, media outlets may be forced to self-censor, avoid stories about litigious individuals or companies, and remove stories from their websites upon receiving legal threats. This situation harms press freedom, democracy, and the free flow of information that the public has a right to receive.
Our Solution
Prevent • Respond • Defend
Reporters Shield works in partnership with its members to:
PREVENT lawsuits. We help members to avoid lawsuits by providing training, resources, and pre-publication review for high-risk investigations.
RESPOND to legal threats. We identify qualified lawyers to respond to legal threats promptly, indicating robust legal representation to the claimant.
DEFEND them in court. We provide and/or pay for our members legal defence against defamation and other content-related lawsuits.
Our Contacts
Jodi Blankenship
Jodi Blankenship is Reporters Shield’s Program Manager and chief administrator. She is the main point of contact for members and oversees all aspects of membership including recruitment, intake, individual case management, and data security. She is also Reporters Shield’s liaison to partner organizations, where she is creating and maintaining joint infrastructure and directing communication and collaboration. Jodi has over 16 years of international experience in program administration, including facilitating projects supporting independent media and legal assistance in the South Caucasus.