Donations Surge After Streep Speech

Committee to Protect Journalists says 'average people' making contributions
By Linda Hervieux,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2017 7:03 AM CST

Meryl Streep's now-famous speech at the Golden Globes had some perhaps unintended consequences, and one that was quite intended: the Committee to Protect Journalists saw a surge in donations that hasn't stopped after the actress called on viewers to open their wallets, the Huffington Post reports. Calling the outpouring "amazing," CPJ chief Joel Simon tells the Hollywood Reporter that 500 donations were posted Sunday night after Streep's plug, and a few hundred more poured into the New York nonprofit on Monday. "It's mostly average people based on the size of the donation, so that's really encouraging," he says.

The CPJ aims mainly to protect reporters in war zones and countries where the press faces restriction—which hasn't historically been a domestic concern. Says Simon, "And now that gap has narrowed and we are facing a press freedom challenge at home." The CPJ's Courtney Radsch tells Poynter, "I don't think any of us were expecting such a ringing endorsement for our work and the right of journalists to report the news, which is our mission." (A list of people and things besides Streep that Donald Trump finds overrated.)

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