Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act requires the United States Department of State to expand its scrutiny of news media intimidation and freedom of the press restrictions during its annual report on human rights in each country . Signed into law by President Obama on May 17 , 2010 , the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act is named in honor of former Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan , just four months after the September 11 attacks . The act amends the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act to include provisions to spotlight governments that seek to silence any media opposition by calling upon the Secretary of State to greatly expand the examination of the status of freedom of the press worldwide in the State Department 's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices . As such , the legislation requires that the State Department identify countries in which there were violations of press freedom , determine whether the government authorities of those countries participate in , facilitate , or condone the violations , and report such actions to preserve the safety and independence of the media and ensure the prosecution of individuals who attack journalists
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act