Welcome to The Transparency Report, a column dedicated to First Amendment news, created, written produced and hosted by Jennifer Karchmer.

When I launched this column five years ago, the goal was to feature research I was doing related to issues that revolve around the First Amendment freedoms: Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly and Petition. It started with the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where I reported on freedom of speech. 
You will see reports on a variety of topics including  Iceland, female journalists, libel and AP style. In 2015, I started a broadcast version (webcast) of The Transparency Report using Google Hangout. 
I interview fellow journalists who work internationally or otherwise have something important to say about press freedom. (Scroll down to locate the video episodes).

​As an independent journalist, I receive no funding, backing or influence from corporations, conglomerate media outlets or private companies. If you would like to support further independent reporting, please go here.  
[image below, left]: Freedom of speech poster campaign for Reporters Without Borders, designed by Saatchi & Saatchi.
​[image below, right]: Freedom of the press poster campaign for Reporters Without Borders, created by Publicis Brussels.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." --
     -- First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

The Transparency Report with Jennifer Karchmer
​video episodes
Episode 4: Shannon Sedgwick, Global Media Risk
Shannon Sedgwick is CEO & Principal Consultant at Global Media Risk, which provides training for journalists who work in conflict and war zones. We discussed current threats against journalists and how Global Media Risk prepares them to enter dangerous regions. 
Runtime: 56 mins, 11 secs.
​Guest location: Lake Tahoe, NV (USA) 
Aired: Oct. 29, 2015
Episode 3: Dana Priest, Washington Post
I interview Washington Post investigative journalist Dana Priest, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for her coverage of foreign affairs, the military and the CIA. In this episode, we discuss Press Uncuffed, a student movement helping free imprisoned journalists. With University of Maryland students, Dana launched Press Uncuffed in March. To date, 4 of the 9 imprisoned journalists highlighted in the campaign have been released.
​Runtime: 50 mins.
​Guest location: Wash, DC 
Aired: Sept. 28, 2015
Episode 2: Anna Bevan, INSI
I interview Anna Bevan, Assistant Director of INSI, the International News Safety Institute, based in London. We discuss safety measures freelance journalists can take while covering conflict, why there are mounting threats against journalists in conflict zones and other issues related to journalists and photogs on the ground in war zones. Bevan herself has worked as a freelance journalist in Central America.
​Runtime: 51 mins, 10 sec 
Guest location: London (England)
​Aired: Aug. 18, 2015
Episode 1: Benjamin Bathke, Mediapreneur
In this inaugural broadcast episode of The Transparency Report, I talk with international journalist Benjamin Bathke, a self-proclaimed mediapreneur. You'll learn more about social entrepreneurship, Semester at Sea, SPJ and the business side of social journalism. 
Runtime: 60 mins
​Guest location: St. Louis, Missouri (USA)
Aired: July 21, 2015