Josh Wolf (journalist)

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Josh Wolf is a video blogger and freelance journalist who was jailed by a U.S. district court on August 1, 2006 for refusing to turn over a collection of videos he recorded during a July 2005 demonstration in San Francisco, California.

The US District Court empaneled a grand jury to determine whether arson charges should be brought against some of the protesters. Because Wolf shot video footage during the protest, he was subpoenaed by the court, requiring him to turn over the footage to the grand jury. Wolf refused to comply with the subpoena, arguing that taking such action would serve as a chilling effect to other journalists trying to cover future protests. U.S. District Judge William Alsup rejected this argument ordered Wolf be jailed for contempt of court until he complied.

A federal appeals court granted him bail on August 31, 2006 and he was released on September 1. Wolf again refused to comply with the district court order that he produce the videotape. On September 18, 2006 his bail was revoked and Wolf returned to prison on September 22, 2006. The entire en banc Court of Appeals refused Wolf's subsequent appeals.

In 2006, The Society of Professional Journalists awarded Josh Wolf with a Journalist of the Year award "for upholding the principles of a free and independent press."