Difference between revisions of "Press freedom and the Occupy movement"

The [[Wikipedia:Occupy movement]] is an on-going protest movement. Journalists covering the movement have been arrested, leading to criticism from press freedom groups.

In 2012, [[Wikipedia:Reporters without Borders]] listed the United States as 47th in its [[Wikipedia:Press Freedom Index]], dropping a full 27 places in just one year. The watchdog group made explicit mention of US response to the Occupy movement, saying: "The United States (47th) also owed its fall of 27 places to the many arrests of journalist covering Occupy Wall Street protests." <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2091948/U-S-falls-47th-press-freedom-rankings-Occupy-crackdown.html U.S falls to 47th in press freedom rankings after Occupy crackdown]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/25/1058454/-Reporters-Without-Borders:-Targeting-of-Occupy-journalists-drops-US-to-47th-in-press-freedom Reporters Without Borders: Targeting of Occupy journalists drops U.S. to 47th in press freedom]</ref>

Three journalists, [[Wikipedia:Natasha Lennard]] of the [[Wikipedia:New York Times]], [[Wikipedia:Kristen Gwynne]] of [[Wikipedia:Alternet]], and documentarian [[Wikipedia:Marisa Holmes]] were arrested covering the events of October 1.<ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/covering-the-march-on-foot-and-in-handcuffs/ Covering the march on foot and in handcuffs]</ref><ref>Natasha Lennard - [http://www.salon.com/2011/11/15/why_i_quit_the_mainstream_media/singleton/]</ref>. <ref>Kristen Gwynne - [http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/674824/nypd_mass_arrests_of_occupy_wall_street_protesters:_firsthand_account_from_alternet_staffer_trapped_on_bridge/ NYPD Mass Arrests of Occupy Wall Street Protesters: Firsthand Account from AlterNet Staffer Trapped on Bridge]</ref><ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/appearances/marisa_holmes Marisa Holmes on Democracy Now]</ref>

On October 1, 2011, police arrested about 700 marchers on the [[Wikipedia:Brooklyn Bridge]].<ref name="700arrest">{{cite news|title=700 Arrested After Wall Street Protest on N.Y.'s Brooklyn Bridge|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/01/500-arrested-after-wall-street-protest-on-nys-brooklyn-bridge/?test=latestnews|accessdate=October 1, 2011|date=October 1, 2011|publisher=Fox News Channel}}</ref> By October 2, all but 20 of those arrested had been released with citations for disorderly conduct.<ref name="Hundreds freed after New York Wall Street protest">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15143509|title=Hundreds freed after New York Wall Street protest|date=October 2, 2011|work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=October 2, 2011}}</ref>

[[Wikipedia:Kristyna Wentz-Graff]] of the [[Wikipedia:Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] was arrested while covering an Occupy protest. <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/kristyna-wentz-graff-milwaukee-arrested-occupy_n_1072264.html Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Photojournalist, Arrested At Occupy Protest]</ref><ref>Journal Sentinel [http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/flynn-seeks-meeting-with-media-after-arrests-133183378.html Mayor says it's 'very clear' arrested photographer was journalist]</ref> The arrest drew criticism from Journal Sentinel editors, the Wisconsin News Photographers Association, the [[Wikipedia:Milwaukee Press Club]] and the [[Wikipedia:National Press Photographers Association]]. Ultimately, Wentz-Graff was ultimately not charged with any wrongdoing. <ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/135857988.html No citations for Journal Sentinel photographer arrested while covering rally]</ref>

Although she was clearly wearing a press pass, Journalist Susie Cagle was arrested in the early hours of November 3 and spent 14 hours at 2 different jails.<ref>{{cite news|last=Daetz|first=Ama|title=Journalist arrested while covering Oakland protest|url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8418546|accessdate=November 21, 2011|newspaper=KGO-TV|date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> She was charged with failure to leave the scene of a riot. Journalists' rights in the United States are constitutionally protected through the [[Wikipedia:First Amendment to the United States Constitution#Freedom of the press|First Amendment]]. Cagle is one of several journalists covering the Occupy movement that have been arrested.<ref>{{cite news|title=Human Rights Group Condemns Journalist Arrests At Occupy Protests|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/human-rights-group-condem_n_1100282.html|accessdate=November 21, 2011|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=November 17, 2011}}</ref> Additionally, Cagle reported having been subject to and witness to mistreatment of protestors during her imprisonment.<ref name=Cagle>[http://www.alternet.org/story/152990/police_state_in_oakland_one_reporter%27s_arrest_contradicts_official_story/?page=entire]</ref>

Two journalists were arrested: [[Wikipedia:Katelyn Ferral]], of [[Wikipedia:The News & Observer]], and [[Wikipedia:Josh Davis (journalist)|Josh Davis]], a graduate student in Journalism at [[Wikipedia:University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill]].<ref>[http://reesenews.org/2011/11/13/column-my-first-hand-account-of-todays-arrest/26969/ "My first-hand account of today's arrest"]</ref>

Police arrested about 200 people, including journalists representing the [[Wikipedia:Agence France-Presse]],<ref name='Estes 2011-11-16'>{{cite news | first = Adam Clark | last = Estes | title = Press Is Not Forgetting the Journalists Arrested at Zuccotti Park | date = 2011-11-16 | url = http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/11/press-not-foregetting-journalists-arrested-zuccotti-park/45047/ | work = The Atlantic | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HneHjTy|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> [[Wikipedia:Associated Press]],<ref name='McCarthy 2011-11-17'>{{cite news | first = Megan | last = McCarthy | title = Bloomberg Spokesperson Admits Arresting Credentialed Reporters, Reading The Awl | date = 2011-11-17 | url = http://www.observer.com/2011/11/bloomberg-spokesperson-admits-arresting-credentialed-reporters-reading-the-awl/ | work = The New York Observer | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63Hngyiiv|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> [[Wikipedia:Daily News (New York)|Daily News]],<ref name='CBS 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | title = Several Journalists Among Those Arrested During Zuccotti Park Raid | date = 2011-11-15 | publisher = CBS News | url = http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/11/15/officials-journalists-among-those-arrested-during-zuccotti-park-raid/ | work = CBSNewsYork/AP | accessdate = 2011-11-16|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63FSXRa1j|archivedate=2011-11-16}}</ref> DNAInfo,<ref name='Ventura 2011-11-16'>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Ventura | title = DNAinfo.com Journalists Arrested While Covering OWS Police Raids | date = 2011-11-16 | url = http://gamma.dnainfo.com/20111115/downtown/dnainfo-journalists-arrested-while-covering-ows-police-raids | work = DNAinfo | accessdate = 2011-11-18 | quote = |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HnkhWBB|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> [[Wikipedia:NPR]],<ref name='Memmott 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Mark | last = Memmott | title = New York Police Clear Occupy Wall Street Protesters From Park | date = 2011-11-15 | url = http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/15/142336656/new-york-police-clear-occupy-wall-street-protesters-from-park | work = NPR | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63Hno1k7M|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> [[Wikipedia:Television New Zealand]],<ref name='AP WSJ'>{{cite news | title = Journalists detained at NYC Occupy protests | date = 2011-11-15 | publisher = The Wall Street Journal | url = http://online.wsj.com/article/AP7788a68e595d4722950196f35c6d4e5b.html | agency = Associated Press | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HnqegCw|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> ''The New York Times'',<ref name='Malsin 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Jared | last = Malsin | title = Reporter for The Local Is Arrested During Occupy Wall Street Clearing | date = 2011-11-15 | publisher = The New York Times | url = http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/video-reporter-for-the-local-is-arrested-during-occupy-wall-street-clearing/ | work = NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63Hnti54Z|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> and [[Wikipedia:Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]],<ref name='Weiner 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Juli | last = Weiner | title = Journalists, Among Those a Vanity Fair Correspondent, Arrested While Covering Occupy Wall Street | date = 2011-11-15 | url = http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/11/Journalists-Among-Those-a-emVanity-Fair-Correspondentem-Arrested-While-Covering-Occupy-Wall-Street | work = Vanity Fair | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HnxWeXm|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> as well as [[Wikipedia:New York City Council]] member [[Wikipedia:Ydanis Rodríguez]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegal|first=Ida|title=Councilman Rodriguez Gives Details of His Occupy Wall Street Arrest|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Councilman-Ydanis-Rodriguez-Occupy-Wall-Street-Arrest-Press-Conference-133948328.html|publisher=WNBC|accessdate=December 20, 2011|coauthors=Colletti, Roseanne|date=November 16, 2011}}</ref> An NBC reporter's press pass was also confiscated.<ref name='Johnston 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Garth | last = Johnston | title = Police Arrest OWS Reporter As He Pleads "I'm A Reporter!" | date = 2011-11-15 | url = http://gothamist.com/2011/11/15/video_police_arrest_ows_reporter_sc.php | work = Gothamist | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HqESagQ|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref><ref>Arrested Journalists list: [[Wikipedia:Karen Matthews (journalist)|Karen Matthews]], [[Wikipedia:Seth Wenig]], Associated Press; [[Wikipedia:Matthew Lysiak]], New York Daily News; [[Wikipedia:Julie Walker]], NPR; [[Wikipedia:Jared Malsin]], The New York Times; [[Wikipedia:Patrick Hedlund]] and [[Wikipedia:Paul Lomax]], DNAinfo NEws; [[Wikipedia:Doug Higginbotham]], freelance video journalist working for TV New Zealand; An unidentified Vanity Fair correspondent; An unidentified Agance France Presse photographer; from [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/11/press-not-foregetting-journalists-arrested-zuccotti-park/45047/ Atlantic Wire]</ref>

While the police cleared the park, credentialed members of the media were kept a block away, preventing them from documenting the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/11/occupy-wall-street-police-raid-eviction |title=Exclusive Video: Inside Police Lines at the Occupy Wall Street Eviction |publisher=Mother Jones |date= |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=David Badash |url=http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/defiant-nyc-mayor-bloomberg-to-occupy-protestors-no-right-is-absolute/politics/2011/11/15/30224 |title=Defiant NYC Mayor Bloomberg To Occupy Protestors: ‘No Right Is Absolute’ |publisher=The New Civil Rights Movement |date= |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref> Police helicopters prevented NBC and CBS news helicopters from filming the clearing of the park.<ref name='Stableford 2011-11-17'>{{cite news | first = Dylan | last = Stableford | title = Press clash with police during Occupy Wall Street raid; seven journalists arrested | date = 2011-11-17 | publisher = [[Wikipedia:Yahoo News]] | url = http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/press-clash-police-during-occupy-wall-street-raid-232215675.html | work = The Cutline | accessdate = 2011-11-18 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HLuZt3W | archivedate=2011-11-17}}</ref> Many journalists complained of being treated roughly or violently by the police.<ref name='Telegraph 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Amy | last = Willis | coauthors = Chris Irvine | title = Occupy Wall Street eviction: as it happened | date = 2011-11-15 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8890772/Occupy-Wall-Street-eviction-as-it-happened.html | work = The Telegraph | accessdate = 2011-11-17 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63FxCrrjf|archivedate=2011-11-17 | quote = CBS News NY News Desk tells me their helicopter was forced down by NYPD -- they had to go down for fuel but weren't allowed back up. #ows | location=London}}</ref><ref name='Gitlin 2011-11-15'>{{cite news | first = Sarah | last = Gitlin | coauthors = Janine Balekdjian | title = Reoccupy Wall Street | date = 2011-11-15 | url = http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2011/11/15/reoccupy-wall-street | work = The Columbia Daily Spectator | accessdate = 2011-11-17 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63FxWzwQd|archivedate=2011-11-17| quote = A CBS helicopter that tried to cover the eviction aerially was forced to leave the airspace over the park by the NYPD, depriving the world of a view of what, exactly, the police were doing. }}</ref><ref name='CPJ'>{{cite web | url = http://www.cpj.org/2011/11/journalists-obstructed-from-covering-ows-protests.php | title = Journalists obstructed from covering OWS protests | accessdate = 2011-11-18 | date = 2011-11-15 | publisher = [[Wikipedia:Committee to Protect Journalists]] | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/63HpunRea | archivedate = 2011-11-15|quote=Lindsey Christ, a reporter for the TV channel NY1, told the Times she witnessed police officers put a New York Post reporter "in a choke-hold."}}</ref>

The [[Wikipedia:Society of Professional Journalists]], the [[Wikipedia:Committee to Protect Journalists]], [[Wikipedia:Reporters Without Borders]] and the [[Wikipedia:New York Civil Liberties Union]] expressed concerns and criticisms regarding the situation.<ref name='Ventura 2011-11-16' /><ref name='SPJ 2011-11-15'>{{cite web | url = http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=1091#1091 | title = SPJ condemns arrests of journalists at Occupy protests | accessdate = 2011-11-18 | date = 2011-11-15 | publisher = [[Wikipedia:Society of Professional Journalists]] | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/63HdgVgJr | archivedate = 2011-11-18}}</ref><ref name='HP AP 2011-11-17'>{{cite news | title = Human rights group concerned over journalists’ arrests at Occupy protests | date = 2011-11-17 | publisher = Huffington Post | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/human-rights-group-concerned-over-journalists-arrests-at-occupy-wall-street/2011/11/17/gIQAZ0kNVN_story.html | agency = Associated Press | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archivedate=2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HyxJz54}}</ref><ref name='RSF 2011-11-16'>{{cite news | title = Journalists arrested and obstructed again during Occupy Wall Street camp eviction | date = 2011-11-16 | url = http://en.rsf.org/united-states-absurd-charges-brought-against-09-11-2011,41370.html | work = Reporters Without Borders | accessdate = 2011-11-18|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/63HdyEWIx|archivedate=2011-11-18}}</ref> The [[Wikipedia:Organization of American States]] [[Wikipedia:OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression|Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression]] issued a statement saying that the "disproportionate restrictions on access to the scene of the events, the arrests, and the criminal charges resulting from the performance of professional duties by reporters violate the right to freedom of expression."<ref name='OAS 2011-11-17'>{{cite press release| url = http://cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=875&lID=1 | title = Office of the Special Rappoteur Expresses Concern over Arrests and Assaults on Journalists Covering Protests in the United States | accessdate = 2011-11-18 | date = 2011-11-17 | publisher = [[Wikipedia:Organization of American States]] | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/63Hc6A1i4 | archivedate = 2011-11-18}}</ref>

On November 21, the [[Wikipedia:New York Daily News]], the [[Wikipedia:New York Post]], the [[Wikipedia:Associated Press]], [[Wikipedia:Dow Jones]], [[Wikipedia:NBC Universal]] and [[Wikipedia:WNBC-TV]] joined in a letter written by ''New York Times'' General Council George Freeman criticizing the New York Police Department's handling of the media during the raid. <ref>{{cite web|author=11/21/11 |url=http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/media-upset-at-nypd-for-treatment-of-reporters-at-ows-1.3338559 |title=Media upset at NYPD for treatment of reporters at OWS&nbsp;— am New York |publisher=Amny.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-24}}</ref>

Among the journalists arrested include [[Wikipedia:Kristin Hanes]] of [[Wikipedia:ABC News]]-KGO, [[Wikipedia:Susie Cagle]],<ref>Washington Post - [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/occupy-oakland-after-2nd-arrest-comics-journalist-susie-cagle-shares-her-on-the-ground-experience/2012/01/30/gIQAAu7UgQ_blog.html OCCUPY OAKLAND: After 2nd arrest, comics journalist Susie Cagle shares her on-the-ground experience]</ref> [[Wikipedia:Gavin Aronsen]] of [[Wikipedia:Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]], [[Wikipedia:Vivian Ho]] of the [[Wikipedia:San Francisco Chronicle]], [[Wikipedia:John C. Osborn (journalist)|John C. Osborn]] of [[Wikipedia:East Bay Express]], and [[Wikipedia:Yael Chanoff]] of [[Wikipedia:San Francisco Bay Guardian]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Aronsen|first=Gavin|title=Journalists—Myself Included—Swept Up in Mass Arrest at Occupy Oakland|url=http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/01/journalists-arrested-occupy-oakland|accessdate=31 January 2012|newspaper=Mother Jones|date=29 January 2012}}</ref>

[[Wikipedia:Carlos Miller (photojournalist)|Carlos Miller]], a member of the [[Wikipedia:National Press Photographers Association]], was documenting the eviction of Occupy Miami when he was arrested. Upon his release, his camera footage of his arrest appeared to have been deleted, but Miller was able to recover the footage despite the attempted deletion. <ref>Ars Technica - [http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/02/journalist-recovers-video-of-his-arrest-after-police-deleted-it.ars Journalist recovers video of his arrest after police deleted it]</ref> Miller is currently facing a single count of resisting arrest.

The Occupy movement has sparked new interest in [[Wikipedia:citizen journalism]] due to fears about [[Wikipedia:censorship]] and [[Wikipedia:bias]] in the media.<ref name=ZDnet>{{cite news|last=Osbourne|first=Charlie|title=Occupy Journalism: The cultural shift in citizen broadcasting|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/occupy-journalism-the-cultural-shift-in-citizen-broadcasting/13803|accessdate=29 March 2012|newspaper=ZDNet|date=19 December 2011}}</ref> New media outlets formed during the Occupy movement include the [[Wikipedia:Occupied Wall Street Journal]] and [[Wikipedia:InsightOut News]].

The movement also increased the popularity of [[Wikipedia:Streaming media|livestreaming]] as a way of disseminating information from the front lines of chaotic situations. However, these [[Wikipedia:New media|new media]] journalists also have complaints about harassment and arrests from the police.<ref name=martin>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=Occupy Wall Street's Livestream Operators Arrested|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/01/occupy-wall-streets-livestream-operators-arrested/46921/|accessdate=29 March 2012|newspaper=The Atlantic Wire|date=3 January 2012}}</ref>