Reporters Committee releases guide to "Police, Protestors and the Press" in Winter magazine

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has published a special 16-page guide for reporters and photographers who may find themselves impeded or arrested covering events on public streets.

“Police, Protesters and the Press” appears as a special pullout in the Winter 2012 edition of the Reporters Committee’s quarterly magazine, The News Media and The Law, and is also available online and as a stand-alone publication. Its funding was provided by the McCormick Foundation.

“The readiness with which some police officers are arresting credentialed journalists or prohibiting them from gathering news on public streets is alarming and unacceptable in the United States,” said Reporters Committee Executive Director Lucy A. Dalglish. “It’s crucial that journalists understand their rights and know what to do if they find themselves in such a situation.”

In addition to several articles looking at recent arrests of reporters and photographers, “Police, Protesters and the Press” includes a section on what journalists should do if they can’t avoid arrest.

The pullout supplements special hotlines established by the Reporters Committee, in partnership with local law firms, to aid journalists covering the NATO Summit in Chicago in May, the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August, and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte in September.

The Winter 2012 edition of The News Media and The Law focuses its cover story on the so-called “Stolen Valor” laws currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court that makes it illegal to lie about military service. First Amendment experts and veterans’ groups weigh in on whether such duplicity should be protected as free speech or prosecuted.

The Winter 2012 edition of The News Media and The Law can be found in its entirety on the Reporters Committee website at http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-law-resources/news-media-law/news-media-and-law-winter-2012

The guide to covering protests is available at: http://www.rcfp.org/police-protesters-and-press

About the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Founded in 1970, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press offers free legal support to thousands of working journalists and media lawyers each year. It is a leader in the fight against persistent efforts by government officials to impede the release of public information, whether by withholding documents or threatening reporters with jail. In addition to its 24/7 Legal Defense Hotline, the Reporters Committee conducts cutting-edge legal research, publishes handbooks and guides on media law issues, files frequent friend-of-the-court legal briefs and offers challenging fellowships and internships for young lawyers and journalists. For more information, go to www.rcfp.org, or follow us on Twitter @rcfp.