Journalism can be a dangerous job, especially the last two years. A record-breaking 129 journalists were killed in 2025, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which has been tracking journalist deaths over the last 30 years.
But intense violence is not the only threat that journalists face. Every May 3, World Press Freedom Day is a reminder to honor journalists who work under repressive conditions, including censorship, surveillance and the threat of retaliation.
Prison journalists, like those who contribute to Prison Journalism Project, also face these dangers.
To mark the day, we’re highlighting seven stories from our archive that show how prison journalism works and how their stories reach outside readers. These pieces include reflections on the craft, evidence of what inside reporting produces, and proof that this work has impact.
— PJP Editors
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“Prison Journalism at The Prison Mirror in the 1980s” by Robert Taliaferro: “When I started this bit back in the early 1980s, I was able to participate in what I remember as the golden age of prison journalism, when prisons around the country encouraged their prisoners to be involved with prison newspapers.”
“How I Fell in Love with Writing in Prison” by Leo Cardez: “When I started writing, I hated it. I didn’t want to be a writer. I didn’t start writing in prison because of some cliché about being ‘driven to the page.’ I wrote because I was hungry and needed to feed myself. Writing was my prison hustle.”
“The Power of Journalism” by Joe Garcia: “A lot of the work we do here is about chasing something bigger than ourselves. Our whole mission is about shifting the narrative through truth.”
“Writing Well From Inside Prison” by John J. Lennon: “Other journalists parachute into prisons, conduct interviews, and then leave. They can’t truly know the characters they interview or the prison culture. They don’t breathe the air, eat the food, feel the tension. They aren’t affected by prison politics and violence and monotony. The scenes they write are almost all reconstructed instead of witnessed firsthand, which produces some of the best writing. My access has been my edge.”
“The Inside Advantage” by Kevin D. Sawyer: “As a journalist who is imprisoned, I have a somewhat unfair ‘inside’ advantage when I report stories. Unlike outside journalists who don’t have the luxury of walking around a prison to ask inmates questions, I’m able to conduct unrestricted interviews with any prisoner I come into contact with on the yard. I can also encourage prisoners to answer survey questions without the permission of the warden or the aid of a public information officer.”
“My Inspiration for Starting The Solano Chronicle” by R.J. Murphy: “It is my goal to bring as much of the population’s voice to publication as possible. At the same time, I will include things that are relevant and informative to the different segments of my readership.”
“The Scoop on the San Quentin COVID-19 Outbreak Story” by Yukari Kane: “PJP San Quentin correspondent Joe Garcia broke the story that San Quentin State Prison was experiencing a new outbreak of COVID-19 based on a conversation he had at his cell with the prison’s chief medical executive. … Joe’s story proved to us that journalism was indeed possible inside prison, but it was a feat to pull it off under lockdown without internet and with limited access to anyone outside of his building.”
