INSI and Free Press webinar recap: Journalist safety and rights at US Conventions
August 23, 2012 Leave a comment
By Natasha Lennard
Nearly 90 people have been arrested while trying to report on the Occupy Wall Street protests in the United States (Flickr / Jessica Lehrman)
Join us on August 23 for second online discussion
On August 16, INSI joined Free Press and the Harvard Digital Media Law Project to host a webinar on press freedom, journalist safety and reporters’ rights in advance of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The online event drew an interactive audience of 40 people.
The discussion drew on a mix of concrete law and safety advice, interspersed with personal stories and experience from professional and citizen journalists who have been covering protests on the ground.
INSI’s Natasha Lennard and John Knefel (host of Radio Dispatch) both talked about their own arrests while reporting on Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, and shared their advice for other reporters should they face similar situations. Andy Sellars of the Digital Media Law Project gave legal advice specific to Tampa and Charlotte where the upcoming political conventions will be held. INSI shared our tips for covering civil unrest, which can be found here.
We have gathered together all the links that the panelists and the audience shared. Be sure to tune in to the second part of the conversation this week on August 23 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Stories of Journalist Arrests:
John Knefel on his arrest: My 37 hours with the NYPD
On Natasha’s Lennard’s arrest: Police Arrest More Than 700 Protesters on Brooklyn Bridge
On Robert Stolarik’s recent arrest: Times Photographer Is Arrested on Assignment
On Robert Stolarik’s arrest in 2004: Photographers describe picture of rough treatment
On the arrest of Joshua Lott during Nato: Photojournalists Arrested, Injured, Covering Chicago NATO Protests
Phil Datz Case: NYCLU Files Civil Rights Lawsuit On Behalf Of Cameraman Arrested By Suffolk Police
On Press Credentials:
The Debate Over Press Credentials
Inside Gothamist’s Absurd Struggle To Get NYPD Press Passes
Notes on the NYPD Press Credentialing Process, from the (Ineligible) Editor-in-Chief of the New York Observer
Information on Covering the Conventions:
Covering the Conventions and Protests (NPPA blog)
Recording Police Officers and Public Officials
Reporters Committee readies free hotline for journalists covering Republican, Democratic National Conventions
Packing for a Protest: The Gear Journalists Take to Report in Conflict Areas (Storify)
National Lawyers Guild website
A law professor and cop explain why you shouldn’t talk to cops in this viral lecture: Don’t Talk to Police
NPPA Advocacy “Know Your Rights” page
ACLU Know Your Rights: Photographers
General Press Freedom and Journalist Rights:
Photos of Journalist Abuse and Arrests at the NATO Summit (Storify)
Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index 2011/2012 (U.S. is 47)
Natasha Lennard is the North America Project Officer for the International News Safety Institute.
About INSI Blog
