Bill Overview
Title: Justice For Journalists Act
Description: This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a criminal investigation of each nonnatural death of a U.S. journalist in a foreign country.
Sponsors: Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
Target Audience
Population: US Journalists working abroad and their families
Estimated Size: 3000
- There are approximately 2,000-3,000 journalists working for U.S. media outlets abroad, including correspondents and freelancers.
- Journalists face risks in foreign countries, particularly in conflict zones or under autocratic regimes.
- The families and peers of journalists could be affected by this bill.
- The broader community interested in press freedom may also have an interest in the outcomes of this bill.
- The bill would impact the workload and focus of entities like the FBI and those concerned with legal procedures and international relations.
- The operation of foreign news bureaus may be influenced.
Reasoning
- The primary direct impact of the Justice For Journalists Act will be on the relatives and colleagues of the journalists as well as U.S. journalists working abroad. Their sense of security and justice-seeking might be highly influenced by the passing of the policy.
- A marginal indirect impact might be felt by the broader segments involved in journalism due to the message the bill sends regarding U.S. commitment to press freedom and journalist protection, albeit this is less quantifiable.
- Not everyone directly affected by the policy resides in the U.S. which means while domestic support may increase general morale leading into advocacy realms such as journalism safety, individual well-being metrics are more deeply rooted in personal ties to those abroad.
- An analysis must balance the positive sentiments generated by the perception of safety and commitment to justice with potential unintentional strains like bureaucratic complexities or diplomatic tensions generated by the FBI's foreign involvement.
Simulated Interviews
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been in potentially dangerous environments and knowing that there might be more accountability gives me some peace of mind.
- It won't change my day-to-day work, but it holds those who threaten us accountable, which is necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Legal Advisor for a media organization (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy sends a crucial message internationally about the importance of protecting journalists.
- In the broader picture, it can help our journalists better understand their rights and inspire changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For freelancers like myself, any additional protection mechanisms are essential.
- I don't know how it will be enforced or realized but having a step strong in this direction is encouraging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am skeptical about the real outcomes due to structural and diplomatic complexities.
- However, if effectively implemented, it could create a larger precedent for international journalism safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
International News Editor (Miami, FL)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our journalists will appreciate this added layer of security promised by U.S. protocol extension.
- Although the results can be influenced by geopolitical dynamics, the intention is promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Tech Consultant (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The initiative will bolster some confidence among journalists, potentially increasing demand for security solutions.
- Concrete evidence of change might take time based on field results and governmental efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Journalism Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that the U.S. has such a system in place provides some comfort for pursuing assignments abroad.
- Uncertainty and reality after school untangles might show tangible effects of such policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Journalist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reflecting on my career, more protective measures could have drastically altered some outcomes for my peers.
- It’s a critical assertion of press rights in times of growing challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
NGO worker (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This law is a signal of accountability which can amplify international advocacy work.
- Its practical application will determine its weight in global diplomacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
University Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an educator, this provides a constructive framework to talk about international media ethics and safety considerations.
- Encouraging initiative; however, scale and impact should be carefully assessed over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $10200000 (Low: $5100000, High: $20400000)
Year 3: $10404000 (Low: $5202000, High: $20808000)
Year 5: $10824320 (Low: $5412160, High: $21648640)
Year 10: $11815549 (Low: $5907775, High: $23631098)
Year 100: $315900398 (Low: $157950199, High: $631800797)
Key Considerations
- The number of journalists working overseas who might be affected by this policy is relatively small, limiting the direct fiscal impact.
- Investigations might require cooperation with foreign governments, potentially impacting international relations and diplomatic negotiations.
- Resource allocation within the FBI might shift to accommodate the workload from these investigations.