Established in November 2024, press freedom advocate William McCarren and former hostage Jason Rezaian (Washington Post) created the Press Freedom Center (PFC), which “defends press freedom through assisting detained, threatened or exiled journalists, through advocacy, direct support and community.”
PFC offers:
Legal Services: The PFC works with three law firms to obtain services for immigration law services and other kinds of work; Mental Health Services –the PFC absorbs most of the costs of journalists needing mental health support through a network of trained mental health professionals trained to assist professionals in trauma;
Housing: PFC helps with short-term rental assistance or AirBnB’s in emergency situations and helps journalists develop more sustainable housing support through fellowships and other approaches;
Transportation: PFC helps with the costs of Uber and taxis for emergency situations related to safety and crisis travel, reduced costs of car rental or air transportation of relocation is required and to avoid deportation to a hostile country;
Training: PFC has a partnership with the National Press Club Journalism Institute to help group training skills so that journalists can enter the job market; Community; the Center provides temporary guest passes to the National Press Club for journalists in the DC are, where free or low-cost food is often available, and exiled journalists can meet others and informally share strategies.
Counseling: McCarren and Rezaian have worked with international journalists to help develop customized strategies for success as these journalists emerge from traumatic situations.
Learn more: National Press Club
