News and information to help journalists serve the public and stay safe.
June 2, 2020
As more journalists covering civic unrest get accosted, hit by projectiles, pounced on by demonstrators and arrested by law enforcement officers, safety and legal precautions are as key to newsgathering as video recorders and notepads.

That means preparing ahead of time with training, equipment and an understanding of applicable laws.

When it comes to legal rights, Bernie Rhodes (pictured) , the head of the media law group at Lathrop GPM in Kansas City, Mo., has a refrain: “The First Amendment is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

“Obviously, you don’t want to get arrested because that interferes with what you are doing,” he said in an interview. “It might make for great TV if it’s live, but it’s still interfering with what you are doing in terms of newsgathering.”

“On the other hand, if police are really asking you to move because they don’t like you being there, that’s a whole different issue,” he said. Court decisions have concluded that journalists have a First Amendment right to film as long as they are not interfering with police activities. “Then you have to decide whether you want to stand your ground.”

The National Press Club Journalism Institute and the National Press Foundation partnered last year on a program on how journalists can protect themselves from physical threats . A recurrent piece of advice: If you see it coming, avoid the conflict.

Danny Spriggs , The Associated Press’ vice president of global security, encourages team reporting to provide 360-degree coverage in high-risk environments. Another program participant, Cmdr. Guillermo Rivera , head of special operations for the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said that when a demonstration becomes chaotic, journalists should watch for cues from the crowd and separate themselves as much as possible from violent outbreaks.

Protective gear is essential, but has not been commonly seen during the recent protests. Reporting veterans recommend helmets, shatterproof goggles, and masks . The frequent use of tear gas by police makes saline solution to rinse out eyes an essential accessory.

Other security tips:
  • Make sure someone (an editor, colleague, lawyer, friend) knows where you are reporting from.
  • Have an exit plan. Look for points of retreat and know the location of the nearest medical facility.
  • Carry power chargers, water, snacks, and sun protection.
  • Avoid a confrontational tone. A smile can help diffuse tension.


Advice from  Jill Geisler ,
Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago
Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

The last time I led a “ Do You Qualify as an Ally ” webinar for the Freedom Forum’s Power Shift Project seems like a lifetime ago. 

It was before COVID-19.

Before Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. 

Before demonstrations across the country.

It was February of this year. 

So much has happened, yet so much remains the same. Harassment, while not in the headlines, still harms women, in person and online. Discrimination, with which harassment is inextricably intertwined, is now in the white hot spotlight, showing us:

  • The disproportionate health and economic impact of the coronavirus on people of color.
  • So-called “essential” workers, often underpaid while overexposed to a life-threatening virus.
  • Black Americans losing their lives to white killers, leading to nationwide expressions of rage against systemic racism.

We’ve also seen aspiring allies step forward, people who want to take a stand against social injustice. They want to serve as trusted forces for good. But, as I’ve written before , j ust as you are not a leader unless people choose to follow you, you’re not an ally unless others believe that you qualify.

One of the essential steps to that distinction is to listen and learn — but never to expect that a colleague is obligated to teach you. Don’t assume that those who have been underrepresented, undervalued, and perhaps exhausted from years of trying to enlighten the unwilling, are eager to take you on as a pro bono project. To teach about discrimination from learned experience is to relive it. Are you worth it to that instructor?

You may be, based on your evidence of good faith. 

Chatting up co-workers is entry-level stuff. What are you doing that requires real effort on your part? For example, what are you reading, watching, listening to? 

If you’d like recommendations, here’s some help. At the latest Power Shift Summit in January, we focused on “ The Power of Allies ” — and we asked the diverse and dedicated attendees to recommend books, podcasts, and documentaries, with a word about why they endorsed them.

We’ve curated that list, which you can see at the Power Shift Book Club site . You’re also welcome to suggest additional materials, too. There’s also this good reading list from Ibram X. Kendi, author of “ How to Be an Antiracist .”

Meanwhile, I have work to do. I’m updating the “Do You Qualify as an Ally?” webinar, which we’ll share June 15 , to incorporate the world-changing events we’ve experienced together in a matter of mere m onths — and focus on action.

Images take us into hospitals, grocery stores, even empty spaces to show us the impact of coronavirus on the people and places affected by the pandemic. Award-winning independent photojournalist  Melissa Lyttle   and documentary photographer Rosem Morton , who is also a nurse , will talk about photography, trauma, and healing. 

Registration is open   for this conversation, which will take place on Zoom.
The COVID-19 pandemic has curbed traditional large-scale Pride celebrations like parades and festivals across the country. 

But coverage of LGBTQ issues and identities in all communities can and should extend beyond the month of June, says Elliott Kozuch , press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign . Pride month started Monday. 

“Pride is rooted in protest and resilience — it is a time for LGBTQ people to celebrate our community, even though we still face discrimination in nearly every facet of life,” Kozuch wrote in an email interview. “This is a time to tell these stories and share the power of LGBTQ people to build community even in the hardest of times.”

“It is also a time to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ experience. … Telling the story of one LGBTQ person doesn’t mean you can’t tell more stories and explore other angles.”

HRC’s COVID-19 resources outline the disproportionate economic impact of the pandemic on LGBTQ communities. What are other pressing story angles in this pandemic that you feel haven’t yet been explored?

Kozuch : One thing we are seeing is how people who hold multiple marginalized identities, such as being both LGBTQ and a person of color, further impacts the negative economic effects of COVID-19. LGBTQ elders in long-term care facilities are disproportionately impacted, as well as LGBTQ people who are incarcerated. 

Additionally, there are many angles around how people are still coming together virtually and otherwise during a time when in-person communication is diminished. LGBTQ advocates around the globe are shifting their work online as they navigate COVID-19 — coming up with innovative ways to continue to build the community and connections we all need, and more so during a time of crisis. This is an angle of resilience and a message any reader can benefit from — even in these uncertain times, our communities find a way forward.

Access to testing for the virus and the pandemic’s impact on the overburdened healthcare system have dominated attention for the last several months. How has the focus on the pandemic and those critical health services affected access to other health needs LGBTQ communities have? 

Kozuch : As part of their response to the pandemic, hospital systems across the country have postponed non-emergency surgeries and procedures in order to prioritize care for COVID-19 patients. This includes many gender-affirming procedures, which are now unfortunately on hold.

These procedures are essential to the long-term well-being to many transgender and non-binary people. But while these procedures have currently been classified as non-urgent, that does not mean they are non-essential. While our country continues to fight COVID-19
and protect public health, many Americans, LGBTQ and not, may have important medical procedures postponed — and this can be incredibly distressing and harmful to their mental health. 

Additionally, the mental health impacts of this pandemic cannot be understated, and data shows us that LGBTQ people are already disproportionately impacted by anxiety, depression and even suicidality — especially those who are transgender or bisexual. And to be clear — mental health disparities for LGBTQ people have nothing to do with being LGBTQ and everything to do with how society treats the community.

One way to work through challenging times and  overwhelming emotions  is by talking to others. Research shows that  verbalizing your thoughts  can help mitigate negative feelings.

But how do you have meaningful conversations online and in person with loved ones when they fundamentally disagree with you?

  • Set boundaries. Start by defining the terms of what topics or language is allowed. If someone strays beyond the limits, stop the discussion immediately and return to it later after parties cool down.
  • Empower empathy. Start by asking why they feel the way they do, then shift the conversation to take them into another person or family’s perspective. Ask them how they would feel if this situation were happening to them.
  • Confront your own biases. Honesty goes a long way during tough conversations. Share your experiences with any personal biases you’ve dealt with as a jumping-off point. 
  • Listen first, speak second. Let them speak freely without interruption. This can be challenging, but it sets the tone for discussion and your response. 
  • Invite family members to engage with outside resources. The National Museum of African American History and Culture offers online videos that cover racial identity and its influence on American society. PolitiFact’s Truth-O-Meter rates the accuracy of claims by public figures. Try playing a fact-checking trivia game with family members to stop the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. Here are some additional tips to spot fake news.

If you need advice for how to redirect hostile conversations, see our previous advice here and here .

Read on for more self-care tips, or share your own .
This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, Jim Kuhnhenn, and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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