Bad Press shines a light on the darkness that can emanate from bad politicians when no free speech protections are in place.

| Original Score: 8.5/10 | Jan 30, 2025

With phrases such as “fake news” and “alternative facts” now dismissing legitimate reporting, the documentary Bad Press is a timely, sobering reminder of why a free press is a healthy and essential part of democracy.

| Sep 26, 2024

Journalistic integrity has always been challenged in this country, but what happens when it filters down to our tribal nations. Bad Press is a raw look at democracy one vote at a time

| Sep 24, 2024

Bad Press is a riveting, nail-biting documentary that leaves audiences on edge while illuminating the struggle for a free press.

| Sep 16, 2024

Bad Press – from directors Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler – exposes one of the movements to silence those who question authority. The documentary examines why these institutions are essential to the communities they serve, now more than ever.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 6, 2024

The documentary team provides ample information about the events and issues, which include wondering if citizens even care about preventing government leaders from controlling everything written or broadcast in the media.

| Sep 5, 2024

The award-winning, Muscogee Nation-set documentary Bad Press is a powerful and timely reminder of the importance of freedom of the press.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 3, 2024

Through its tightly edited 90-minute runtime, Bad Press chronicles the fight to bring free press back to the Muscogee people, and it’s a thoroughly compelling watch.

| Aug 30, 2024

Bad Press takes a candid and deeply compelling look at the struggle for unimpeded reporting within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

| Aug 30, 2024

Reporting on messy events, Bad Press becomes messy itself. But if we end up frustratingly unsure about who we want as the new chief, we never waver in our support for Ellis.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 26, 2024

Landsberry-Baker and Peeler could linger more on details about the people involved instead of the horse-race suspense of vote counts. But who can blame them when freedom is in the balance...

| Nov 30, 2023

A gripping, eye-opening and vital documentary. A truly great documentary finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them emotionally as well as intellectually. Bad Press finds that essential balance with flying colors.

| Nov 26, 2023

A fascinating exploration of the sort of story that I wasn’t sure was even possible in America

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 17, 2023

Bad Press triumphs in its demonstration of the power of truthful journalism to keep democracy afloat and a community well informed [Full Review in Spanish]

| Nov 15, 2023

…an intense look at the heartbeat behind democracy… does its job to to enshrine the inspiring work of those who take their jobs as journalists seriously, not just acting as PR people…

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 10, 2023

As it follows everyday Indigenous newspaper reporters fighting to do their jobs, Bad Press demands that you understand the ramifications of citizens and watchdogs being unable to speak truth to power.

| Nov 2, 2023

It is, perhaps, too easy to take journalistic freedom for granted in the United States, but Bad Press serves as a case study of why we shouldn't.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 27, 2023

"Bad Press" is a perceptive work that shows how quickly bad actors can control the narrative if accountability is suddenly tossed out the window.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 12, 2023

It’s highly entertaining, pleasingly twisty, emotionally charged, and gives the viewer clear cut heroes and villains worth cheering and jeering throughout.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Sep 26, 2023

There is an urgency to the film because, with another election looming, more powerful leaders in the United States may soon try to follow in the Muscogee Nation’s example...

| Jun 16, 2023