<a href="https://reason.com/2025/07/14/2-new-jersey-journalists-face-criminal-charges-for-publishing-information-from-a-police-blotter/" target="_blank">View original image source</a>.
In a bizarre turn of events, two journalists from Red Bank, New Jersey, are facing criminal charges for doing what journalists do best—reporting the truth. Brian Donohue and Kenny Katzgrau of the news site Red Bank Green included a police blotter item detailing an expunged arrest. Instead of pulling the story, they noted the expungement but chose to keep the truth out there. And wouldn’t you know it, that led to legal trouble!
The charges stem from a New Jersey law that says you can’t talk about expunged arrests. So apparently, doing your job as a journalist now means risking your freedom. Legal experts and advocacy groups are fuming, claiming that this prosecution is an unconstitutional attack on freedom of the press. I mean, if journalists can’t report facts without fearing a visit from the law, we might as well just give up our rights now and call it a day!
This whole episode raises some serious questions about media freedom and accountability. With several journalists already facing repercussions for their reporting, are we heading toward an era where speaking the truth is not only discouraged but criminalized? It makes you wonder—can we trust our sources when they might just be deciding whether to report straight facts or cover their tracks instead?
What’s your take on this story? Should journalists face legal consequences for publishing true information, even if it’s uncomfortable for someone? Let’s get talking!
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