Ponca City confirms right to access arrest records in settlement with Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma Watch and one of its reporters sued Ponca City with the help of RCFP attorneys after it refused to release arrest records.

A public records lawsuit brought by @oklahomawatch.bsky.social, represented by RCFP attorneys, has forced an Oklahoma city to concede that it wrongfully withheld law enforcement records in a settlement that could lead to broader transparency across the state.

North Carolina press and transparency advocates - join us Wednesday 3/12 in Durham for the NC News & Information Summit and learn everything you always (or maybe never?) wanted to know about the NC public records law! @nclocal.bsky.social @ncopengov.bsky.social

A graphic in shades of blue and green with a mountain image in the background. The image is mostly text and reads: "Featuring a keynote opening spotlighting the unwavering local news coverage in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Western NC and the journalists, information providers and supporters who served as a lifeline for their communities. More sessions announced soon!" It also provides a link to register: bit.ly/ncsummit25

More details & registration info here: www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-nc-ne...

Media coalition to White House: Restore AP access to press pool “Conditioning pool access to White House events on the editorial decisions of any news organization violates First Amendment principles,” the letter states.

RCFP, joined by 30+ news media organizations, is asking the White House to restore @apnews.com's pool participation.

“Conditioning pool access to White House events on the editorial decisions of any news organization violates First Amendment principles.”

Transparency issues in local governments What governments do with their time and your money is a matter of public record. But, as we have seen, governments often drag their feet for months, even years, on releasing documents the public has a...

Thank you Charlotte Talks and @wfae.bsky.social for highlighting the government transparency challenges facing journalists and the public in Charlotte. www.wfae.org/show/charlot...

Veteran news editor expects Trump 'to go after the press in every conceivable way' Former Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron says he thinks Trump is "salivating for the opportunity to prosecute and imprison journalists." New Yorker editor David Remnick agrees.

On @npr.org's Fresh Air, former Washington Post editor @postbaron.bsky.social touts the importance of increased legal support for journalists — highlighting RCFP's work — in protecting America's free press over the next four years.

The state of local news in NC and across the nation For decades, most Americans got local news from newspapers, but the digital revolution destroyed a business model that paid for that coverage. Daily newspaper circulation has declined from 60 million ...

This Charlotte Talks piece on @wfae.bsky.social about the state of local news in NC and across the country is a worthwhile listen. www.wfae.org/show/charlot...

A blue text graphic for the Reporters Committee Legal Hotline, with a clock icon, reading "Legal Hotline: 800-336-4243 | hotline@rcfp.org."

RCFP also operates a free Legal Hotline for journalists who have newsgathering questions or are in need of legal assistance: www.rcfp.org/legal-hotline/

Reporters have called it "an incredible resource" — and often return for help again and again: www.rcfp.org/legal-hotlin...

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides free legal guides and resources to help reporters understand their rights.

👋 We’re the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), a nonpartisan nonprofit that provides free legal help to journalists and protects their First Amendment + newsgathering rights.

Follow us to keep up with the fight for #pressfreedom!

Learn more at rcfp.org and in the thread below 👇

Check out our Starter Pack and follow our reporters, editors, and staff as we do deep coverage of North Carolina.

go.bsky.app/D31XM91

I created an FOI and Open Government starter pack and will add to it when I see more FOI warriors on Bluesky.

A screen shot of Bluesky's graphic to promote starter packs, which is blue and white and includes avatars for six news orgs and journalists with NC Local's logo in the middle.

Hello! ISO North Carolina news and information friends to add to our feed: news orgs, journalists, educators, researchers, civic info people, open government advocates, community info orgs, PIOs, etc. Please reply or tag someone we should follow. TY! First starter pack here: go.bsky.app/Ri35iod