Pritzker signs bill to protect freedom of press, Illinois journalists

CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Thursday that aims to protect journalists across the state and the freedom of the press.

Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1181 into law, which says that the protections in the Citizen Participation Act apply to the freedom of the press to “opine, report, or investigate matters of public concern.” Additionally, this act protects against “strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs),” and with this new amendment, news media will be explicitly added as a protected entity.

Now in Illinois, journalists facing defamation lawsuits or similar litigation for reporting on public matters will be protected under the same legislation. Pritzker said he signed this bill to strengthen protections for journalists as they face threats from President Donald Trump.

“As Trump and his friends continue their frivolous and targeted attacks on members of the free press, we are working to protect and empower Illinois journalists as they keep the general public informed,” Pritzker said. “This law will strengthen our anti-SLAPP legislation in Illinois — ensuring press don’t have to fear retaliation for reporting the truth and reminding all Illinoisans that their free speech is safe, valued, and protected.”

After an increased number of lawsuits from the Trump Administration against journalists, Pritzker said Illinois is working to protect freedom of the press by “explicitly codifying protections” for all reports by the media on public concern matters.

Following the New York Times v. Sullivan case in 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court guaranteed strong protections for freedom of the press. However, anti-SLAPP legislation is still a responsibility decided by the states, as no federal anti-SLAPP legislation has been passed.

Pritzker said that President Trump has threatened to undo many of the existing protections for news organizations and journalists on multiple occasions.

The signing of this bill puts it into effect immediately. 38 other states have already implemented anti-SLAPP statutes, with 10 states improving and amending their anti-SLAPP legislation in the last two years alone.

“Illinois is drawing a line in the sand: we will not let President Trump discredit the truth and weaponize the legal system to gain more political power,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “Our democracy cannot function without a free press. With this law, the Pritzker-Stratton administration is fighting back against those who would use retribution to silence journalists into submission.”