Police Target Journalists as Trump Blames ‘Lamestream Media’ for Protests

"“I’ve really never seen anything like this”: Reporters and news photographers describe being roughed up, arrested and shot with projectiles while covering demonstrations across the country."

"Barbara Davidson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, was covering a protest near the Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles on Saturday when a police officer ordered her to move.

She showed him her press credentials, she said in an interview. The officer said he did not care and again told her to leave the area.

After saying, “Sir, I am a journalist covering this,” Ms. Davidson turned to walk away, and the officer shoved her in the back, causing her to trip and hit her head against a fire hydrant, she said. She was not hurt, she added, because she was wearing a helmet she had bought while getting skateboarding equipment for a nephew. ...

Many reporters, photographers and press advocates said the treatment of journalists by police officers in recent days reflected an erosion of trust in the news media that has seeped into law enforcement under President Trump, who has deemed critical coverage of his administration “fake news” and has frequently labeled some news organizations and journalists with variants of the phrase “enemies of the people.”"

Marc Tracy and Rachel Abrams report for the New York Times June 1, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Police Have Attacked Journalists More Than 100 Times In The Past Four Days" (NiemanLab)

"Journalists Blinded, Injured, Arrested Covering George Floyd Protests Nationwide" (USA TODAY)

"Australia Probes US Police Assault On Its Journalists" (AFP)

"Police Targeted Journalists Covering The George Floyd Protests" (Vox)

"Journalists Around The Country Have Been Injured And Arrested By Police While Covering Protests" (BuzzFeed)

"‘The Norms Have Broken Down’: Shock As Journalists Are Arrested, Injured By Police While Trying To Cover The Story" (Washington Post)

"‘The Terror Of Wearing Both A Press Badge And Black Skin’: Black Journalists Are Carrying Unique Burdens" (Washington Post)

"More Journalists Injured Covering George Floyd Protests" (AP)

 

Source: NYTimes, 06/02/2020