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{
"title": "ABC, local affiliate subpoenaed ahead of Massachusetts murder trial",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/abc-local-affiliate-subpoenaed-ahead-of-massachusetts-murder-trial/",
"first_published_at": "2025-04-01T15:29:49.721185Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-01T15:29:49.721185Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-01T15:10:15.752445Z",
"date": "2024-11-12",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Dedham",
"longitude": -71.16616,
"latitude": 42.24177,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"vxefi\">ABC News and its Boston-area affiliate, WCVB-TV, were subpoenaed on Nov. 12, 2024, for interview footage in connection with a murder trial in Dedham, Massachusetts. A judge struck down the request the following month, according to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"4g0cr\">In August 2023, the ABC News show “Nightline” aired a segment in which Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman interviewed Karen Read, who <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5343433/karen-read-second-murder-trial\">stands accused</a> of the murder of her boyfriend in a case that has captured national attention.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ho00\">Prosecutors <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/abc-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-massachusetts-murder-trial\">filed a request</a> with the court the following month, asking that it compel ABC to turn over the full interview recording, including any unaired footage. Massachusetts does not have a formally recognized reporter’s shield law protecting journalists from being forced to disclose newsgathering materials.</p><p data-block-key=\"3bo01\">Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone struck down the subpoena in October, noting that the prosecutors had not followed the required procedures for obtaining materials from out-of-state, nonparty witnesses.</p><p data-block-key=\"5vs6\">After the case against Read ended in a mistrial in July 2024, prosecutors tried to obtain ABC’s interview recordings and notes again, attempting to get around the subpoena procedures by including Needham-based WCVB-TV.</p><p data-block-key=\"fqdiv\">In addition to the recordings and notes from the Read interview, the renewed request also explicitly sought copies of any off-the-record or redacted statements, and any communications between ABC News and Read.</p><p data-block-key=\"angc8\">“This case does not involve a confidential source or confidential informant. Rather, the defendant made a tactical decision to be interviewed. There is no legal justification enabling a defendant to pick and choose what statements can and should be disseminated to the public,” prosecutors wrote. “This Commonwealth does not recognize any private agreements between the defendant and the news sources.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bj77e\">According to court filings, prosecutors withdrew their request to WCVB-TV after the station notified them that it neither had the requested materials nor control over ABC.</p><p data-block-key=\"74quc\">On Dec. 9, Cannone struck down the request, ruling that there was no legal basis for the prosecutors’ argument that serving the local affiliate exempted them from following procedures for subpoenaing out-of-state parties.</p><p data-block-key=\"9pake\">“To hold otherwise would allow a party to circumvent the procedural safeguards agreed to by all states that ensure necessary witnesses and records are available for criminal prosecution even if outside the state and that resident witnesses are not needlessly required to travel to other states to testify,” Cannone wrote in her decision.</p><p data-block-key=\"ec4gg\">Neither ABC nor WCVB-TV responded to requests for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/WCVB-TV_2024_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"09rne\">A portion of Massachusetts prosecutors’ Nov. 12, 2024, motion to force ABC News or its Needham-based affiliate, WCVB-TV, to disclose unedited interview recordings with Karen Read ahead of her retrial on murder charges.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Massachusetts",
"abbreviation": "MA"
},
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"target_nationality": [],
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"ABC News",
"WCVB-TV"
],
"tags": [],
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"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
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},
{
"title": "Three arrested in murder-for-hire plot against Iranian American journalist",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/three-arrested-in-murder-for-hire-plot-against-iranian-american-journalist/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-12T20:17:25.713699Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-12T20:17:25.713699Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-12T20:15:41.557255Z",
"date": "2024-11-08",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"405sh\">The Department of Justice announced charges on Nov. 8, 2024, against three men it accused of surveilling and plotting to murder New York-based Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad. Thirteen others have been indicted in connection with murder-for-hire plots against Alinejad.</p><p data-block-key=\"4adjb\">Alinejad, referred to as “Victim-1” in the DOJ’s <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-murder-hire-and-related-charges-against-irgc-asset-and-two\">news release</a>, confirmed in a <a href=\"https://x.com/alinejadmasih/status/1854959153770643838?s=46\">social media post</a> that she was the target of the plot. Iranian citizen Farhad Shakeri and U.S. citizens Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt have been charged with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and money laundering conspiracy. Rivera and Loadholt were arrested on Nov. 7.</p><p data-block-key=\"1vej8\">Shakeri, who the DOJ said is still at large, was also allegedly tasked with “providing a plan to kill President-elect Donald J. Trump.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1dt7h\">“I just learned from the @FBI that two men were arrested yesterday in a new plot to kill me at Fairfield University, where I was scheduled to give a talk,” Alinejad wrote in the social media post. “I came to America to practice my First Amendment right to freedom of speech—I don’t want to die. I want to fight against tyranny, and I deserve to be safe.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I am shocked. I just learned from the <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FBI</a> that two men were arrested yesterday in a new plot to kill me at Fairfield University, where I was scheduled to give a talk.<br><br>I also learned that the person assigned to assassinate <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump</a> was also assigned to kill me on U.S.… <a href=\"https://t.co/3dL8yzBpQl\">pic.twitter.com/3dL8yzBpQl</a></p>— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1854959153770643838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 8, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"405sh\">Alinejad, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, is a vocal critic of the Iranian government and fled that country in 2009, The New York Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/nyregion/iran-masih-alinejad-kidnapping.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=New%20York\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"8a2m4\">Shakeri was also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization — the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the government of Iran.</p><p data-block-key=\"3dpt4\">Since July 2021, thirteen people <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/five-indicted-in-connection-with-plot-to-kidnap-iranian-american-journalist/\">have been charged</a> in connection with plans to kidnap and murder Alinejad, some of whom the DOJ alleges are connected to the Iranian government.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/AP24052782973886.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"6zhaz\">Iranian American independent journalist Masih Alinejad in New York in 2023. The Justice Department announced charges on Nov. 8, 2024, against three men it accused of plotting to murder her.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
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"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
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"Masih Alinejad (Independent)"
],
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},
{
"title": "California journalist grabbed by sheriff’s deputy at county board meeting",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-journalist-grabbed-by-sheriffs-deputy-at-county-board-meeting/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-19T21:34:37.657777Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-19T21:34:37.657777Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-19T21:34:37.460772Z",
"date": "2024-11-07",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Redding",
"longitude": -122.39168,
"latitude": 40.58654,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2fsen\">Journalist Doni Chamberlain was grabbed and forced out of a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting in Redding, California, by a sheriff’s deputy on Nov. 7, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"6pbmm\">Chamberlain, publisher and owner of A News Cafe, an online news magazine, <a href=\"https://anewscafe.com/2024/11/12/redding/sheriffs-deputy-grabs-anc-publishers-arms-and-cell-phone-shoves-her-from-board-chambers/\">reported</a> that she was one of several journalists <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporters-forced-from-california-county-meeting-during-protesters-arrest\">ejected from the meeting</a> after law enforcement began the arrest of a protester who had seated herself in front of the dais. Chamberlain told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker she believed that the ejection was intended to prevent them from covering the protest and subsequent arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"nkgr\">Chamberlain began livestreaming the meeting when two protesters seated themselves on the floor at the front of the room, one holding a sign supporting a county official who had been criticized over election monitoring practices. When the board chair called a recess and ordered the public to leave the room, three journalists, including Chamberlain, remained.</p><p data-block-key=\"3l19e\">Security guards asked Chamberlain to leave the room several times and stood in front of her phone camera as she livestreamed the protesters. Chamberlain told him that she had the right to remain there as a journalist.</p><p data-block-key=\"471mt\">The second protester soon left, but the first refused. A group of sheriff’s deputies then entered, some of whom arrested the remaining protester. Another joined the security guards in ordering the journalists to move further back in the room, telling them that safety issues and an “ongoing investigation” required that they leave and threatening them with arrest. The lights in the room were also turned off as the arrest proceeded.</p><p data-block-key=\"4fk6c\">“Clearly, law enforcement’s goal was to move the press as far from their dealings with (the protester) as possible, so we couldn’t see, hear, or report,” Chamberlain told the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"fj2lr\">The two other reporters left the room, leaving Chamberlain standing in the open doorway. A sheriff’s deputy ordered her into the foyer; Chamberlain again refused, saying that she had a right as a member of the press to remain there as long as the protest and arrest were ongoing in the board chambers.</p><p data-block-key=\"9l2fg\">The deputy gestured at a colleague, who grabbed Chamberlain’s cellphone, causing her Facebook Live feed to go dark. He then let go of her phone and took hold of both of her upper arms, pushing her out of the room.</p><p data-block-key=\"dvphv\">She reported that her arms were sore after being “roughly grabbed,” but that her phone was not damaged.</p><p data-block-key=\"5fuob\">Chamberlain told the Tracker that the security guard and sheriff’s deputies “absolutely knew I was a member of the press, because I repeatedly verbally identified myself as a journalist who had a protected First Amendment right to remain in the room where a peaceful protester was being dealt with by multiple deputies.”</p><p data-block-key=\"10c3k\">She said that she typically doesn’t wear a press pass because she’s well-known in the county after 30 years of journalism, but added, “From now on, I’ll start wearing a press pass to all events.”</p><p data-block-key=\"er34h\">Chamberlain also explained that she prefers to attend the board’s meetings in person because the online livestream is turned off during recesses or if a problem arises — and such situations are “not rare.” “This means anyone watching the livestreaming video is suddenly, literally, in the dark about what’s happening,” she said. So when the livestream stops, Chamberlain said she starts streaming the meeting on Facebook Live for the benefit of the public.</p><p data-block-key=\"7a16a\">After the ejection, Supervisor Tim Garman <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cfe2qYf2S/\">posted an apology</a> on Facebook to media forced out of the meeting room.</p><p data-block-key=\"drt1a\">“The constitution protects their rights to be where the news is happening, and someone being arrested in a public building is certainly news,” he wrote. “There was zero safety threat inside the board chambers.”</p><p data-block-key=\"fjalh\">Chamberlain told the Tracker she intends to file a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office against the deputies and another with the Shasta County Administration Office against the board chair. She also said that she reported the incident to the ACLU and the First Amendment Coalition, and is looking for an attorney.</p><p data-block-key=\"7tgee\">Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office reiterated in a <a href=\"https://anewscafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462560013_541467338855108_92698175770891807_n.jpg\">news release</a> that the meeting room had been cleared “for safety,” and announced that “this incident remains under investigation and other individuals who failed to obey lawful orders to exit the chambers may also face charges.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bmc13\">Chamberlain mentioned that several militia group members showed up at the meeting and stood along the back wall, “which made for an intimidating sight.” Chamberlain was <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-reporter-assaulted-at-meeting-as-man-grabs-camera/\">assaulted in July 2023</a> while attempting to document a meeting of a group of conservative activists planned by Jesse Lane, one of the militia members present at the Nov. 7 meeting.</p><p data-block-key=\"66kdj\">“After these two assaults, I feel less and less safe working as a journalist,” Chamberlain told the Tracker. “These are scary days to be a journalist.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Chamberlain_screenshot.2e517213.fill-1330x880.jpg",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"bc7tw\">During a protester’s arrest, sheriff’s deputies grabbed reporter Doni Chamberlain by the arms and forced her out of a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting in Redding, California, on Nov. 7, 2024.</p>",
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"name": "California",
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{
"title": "Reporters forced from California county meeting during protester’s arrest",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporters-forced-from-california-county-meeting-during-protesters-arrest/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-19T21:34:58.504895Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-19T21:50:31.102609Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-19T21:50:31.015642Z",
"date": "2024-11-07",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Redding",
"longitude": -122.39168,
"latitude": 40.58654,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2mib2\">Members of the press were ejected by sheriff’s deputies from a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting in Redding, California, on Nov. 7, 2024. The deputies claimed that the room was cleared for safety reasons as they arrested a protester who had seated herself in front of the dais.</p><p data-block-key=\"clpsh\">The protester, one of two, held a sign supporting a county official who had been criticized over election monitoring practices. When the board chair called a recess and ordered the public to leave the room, three journalists remained — Doni Chamberlain of A News Cafe, Annelise Pierce of Shasta Scout and David Benda of the Record Searchlight.</p><p data-block-key=\"cltok\">The second protester soon left, but the first refused. Pierce told County Counsel Joseph Larmour, who had also ordered the reporters out of the room, that she was staying to document a citizen’s actions, the Shasta Scout <a href=\"https://shastascout.org/press-freedom-organization-says-shasta-countys-decision-viol/\">reported</a>. Larmour responded that the protester was “a ‘target’ of law enforcement and therefore didn’t ‘count’ as a citizen.”</p><p data-block-key=\"equir\">A group of sheriff’s deputies then entered, some of whom arrested the remaining protester. Another joined security guards in ordering the journalists to move further back in the room, telling them that safety issues and an “ongoing investigation” required that they leave and threatening them with arrest. The lights in the room were also turned off as the arrest proceeded.</p><p data-block-key=\"7unq9\">Pierce and Benda left the room; Chamberlain was <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-journalist-grabbed-by-sheriffs-deputy-at-county-board-meeting\">grabbed and forcibly removed</a> by a sheriff’s deputy. After the protester was removed, the meeting reconvened and the journalists reentered.</p><p data-block-key=\"a3uve\">Later, Supervisor Tim Garman <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cfe2qYf2S/\">posted an apology</a> on Facebook to media forced out of the meeting room.</p><p data-block-key=\"6qcc4\">“The constitution protects their rights to be where the news is happening, and someone being arrested in a public building is certainly news,” he wrote. “There was zero safety threat inside the board chambers.”</p><p data-block-key=\"cipu5\">Meanwhile, the Shasta County Sheriff reiterated in a <a href=\"https://anewscafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462560013_541467338855108_92698175770891807_n.jpg\">news release</a> that the meeting room had been cleared “for safety,” and announced that “this incident remains under investigation and other individuals who failed to obey lawful orders to exit the chambers may also face charges.”</p><p data-block-key=\"a79tf\">The board also issued its own <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25290395-2024-11-12-fac-ltr-to-shasta-co-bos-sheriff-w-attachments#document/p6\">news release</a>, alleging that press had been removed under “a protocol that has been in place for more than a year.” Shasta Scout reported that in response to a request for documentation of the protocol, Larmour acknowledged it had “not been memorialized in writing.”</p><p data-block-key=\"er08d\">It was the second time reporters were ordered to leave the room during a protest at a supervisor’s meeting. The first was in July, when the same woman protested. That time, journalists remained to report on her arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"ft068\">After that arrest, the board announced a new media policy under which media must stay sequestered in a separate room, watching the meetings through glass windows and only hearing audio spoken through a microphone, Shasta Scout <a href=\"https://shastascout.org/shasta-county-plans-to-restrict-media-access-at-public-meetings/\">reported</a>. If press chose to stay in the main room, they would be ordered to leave during any “disruptions.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2fm8p\">The policy was <a href=\"https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2024/08/01/shasta-county-drops-new-media-policy-after-public-backlash/74640536007/\">rescinded</a> days later, after criticism from the public and advocacy group First Amendment Coalition, which called it a violation of California’s open meetings law and the First Amendment.</p><p data-block-key=\"8bahj\">Reporter Chamberlain told the Tracker she saw Nov. 7’s events as a reaction to press coverage of the earlier protest.</p><p data-block-key=\"9msn0\">“I believe Chair Kevin Crye and Sheriff Mike Johnson were angry and embarrassed by our reporting about (the protester),” Chamberlain told the Tracker. “I believe they decided they would not allow press access to report what happened again.”</p><p data-block-key=\"57gls\">In a <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25290395-2024-11-12-fac-ltr-to-shasta-co-bos-sheriff-w-attachments?responsive=1&title=1\">Nov. 12 letter</a> to the board and sheriff’s office, the First Amendment Coalition criticized the media’s removal from the Nov. 7 meeting as another violation of open meetings law and the Constitution, noting that there was little justification for clearing the room at all, let alone ordering the press to leave.</p><p data-block-key=\"12pta\">Pierce told the Tracker that she was surprised that the deputies would engage in such “a clear violation of First Amendment rights,” but that “there have been ongoing indication of threats to press freedom under our new board majority,” a reference to the media policy enacted in July.</p><p data-block-key=\"71bgf\">Chamberlain mentioned that several militia group members showed up at the Nov. 7 meeting and stood along the back wall, “which made for an intimidating sight.”</p><p data-block-key=\"70cuv\">“Shasta County law enforcement has a history of colluding with the militia,” Pierce added. “For this reason, I found the arrival of individuals, some known to be militia members, particularly concerning.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"keg53\">Excerpt of a news release from the Shasta County Board of Supervisors after press were ejected from a Nov. 7, 2024, board meeting in Redding, California. The ejection occurred during a protester’s arrest by sheriff’s deputies.</p>",
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"name": "California",
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"protest"
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"Local government: Legislature"
],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Doni Chamberlain (A News Cafe)",
"Annelise Pierce (Shasta Scout)",
"David Benda ([Redding] Record Searchlight)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
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"Government event"
]
},
{
"title": "Philadelphia 76ers player shoves columnist in locker room over article",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/philadelphia-76ers-player-shoves-columnist-in-locker-room-over-article/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-06T19:37:22.204705Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-06T19:37:22.204705Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-06T19:13:52.672756Z",
"date": "2024-11-02",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Philadelphia",
"longitude": -75.16362,
"latitude": 39.95238,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2bsr1\">Marcus Hayes, a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, was shoved by a player for the 76ers following a home game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 2, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"78da3\">The Inquirer <a href=\"https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/joel-embiid-marcus-hayes-sixers-inquirer-locker-room-grizzlies-20241103.html\">reported</a> that following the team’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, center Joel Embiid sought Hayes out in the locker room and confronted him about his <a href=\"https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-joel-embiid-shaq-charles-barkley-nba-opener-20241023.html\">Oct. 23 column</a>, taking issue with its mention of Embiid’s late brother and his son. Hayes had <a href=\"https://x.com/inkstainedretch/status/1849196418403066064\">removed</a> the references and replaced a picture in the column after receiving pushback.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So, I rewrote the lede to my column and replaced the picture. I can see why so many people were upset about it. Sorry about that.<br><br>Thanks for all of the constructive criticism. <a href=\"https://t.co/GE8xIHc22z\">https://t.co/GE8xIHc22z</a></p>— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/inkstainedretch/status/1849196418403066064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2bsr1\"><a href=\"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/42159993/joel-embiid-confronts-shoves-philadelphia-columnist\">According to ESPN</a>, Embiid told Hayes, “The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4e5p4\">Hayes attempted to apologize to Embiid, according to the Inquirer, but was rebuffed as the confrontation turned physical. The incident lasted about two minutes, during which Embiid allegedly struck Hayes’ neck and collarbone with an open hand and pushed the journalist back, the newspaper reported.</p><p data-block-key=\"fmpu3\">The Sixers’ public relations chief got between Hayes and Embiid, and a team security guard asked other reporters present not to report on the altercation, ESPN reported. Embiid yelled over the guard that the journalists could do whatever they wanted.</p><p data-block-key=\"b0psr\">Hayes told the Inquirer that following the altercation he was taken to meet with Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and General Manager Elton Brand, who apologized for the incident and asked for Hayes’ version of events.<br/><br/> “They agreed that Embiid’s actions were unacceptable,” Hayes said.</p><p data-block-key=\"667tc\">The NBA said in a <a href=\"https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1852915878884426107\">statement to ESPN</a> that it was aware of reports of the incident and had opened an investigation. On Nov. 5, the organization decided to suspend Embiid for three games, ESPN senior reporter Shams Charania <a href=\"https://x.com/shamscharania/status/1853913338322780245\">reported</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The NBA has suspended Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid for three games for altercation shoving a columnist in a postgame locker room. <a href=\"https://t.co/odkbFwuA0p\">pic.twitter.com/odkbFwuA0p</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1853913338322780245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 5, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2bsr1\">Hayes declined to comment when reached by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"863jc\">In a statement published by the news outlet, Inquirer Editor and Senior Vice President Gabriel Escobar said: “Marcus is an experienced and accomplished columnist who offers sharp and illuminating commentary grounded in his observations. You are free to disagree with what he says, but a physical assault is unwarranted and untenable and we are taking this matter very seriously.”</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"0cbxj\">Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, in white, during a timeout at a home game in Pennsylvania on Oct. 23, 2024. Following a Nov. 2 game, Embiid shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes in a locker room altercation.</p>",
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"name": "Pennsylvania",
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{
"title": "Miami Herald subpoenaed in connection with airline defamation suit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/miami-herald-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-airline-defamation-suit/",
"first_published_at": "2025-03-07T22:13:16.899730Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-03-07T22:13:16.899730Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-03-07T22:09:26.610234Z",
"date": "2024-10-31",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Fort Lauderdale",
"longitude": -80.14338,
"latitude": 26.12231,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"gdadz\">The Miami Herald was subpoenaed on Oct. 31, 2024, in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed in Florida federal court by an airline company. The request was struck down a few weeks later.</p><p data-block-key=\"aq7do\">The company, Monarch Air, had been the subject of an article published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, an investigative journalism organization based in the Netherlands.</p><p data-block-key=\"e3rmi\">The lawsuit alleged that the article insinuated Monarch was involved in criminal activity, and that it knowingly left errors online for months after being alerted to falsehoods. Monarch also asserted that reporter Lily Dobrovolskaya, who wrote the article, had initially sought to publish the article with the Herald.</p><p data-block-key=\"6tm\">The October <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000.92.1.pdf\">subpoena</a> requested all communications between the Herald and Dobrovolskaya, the OCCRP and its parent company — the Journalism Development Network — concerning the airline, along with details concerning the Herald’s decision not to publish the article.</p><p data-block-key=\"bnud9\">McClatchy Co., which publishes the Herald, filed a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000.92.0.pdf\">motion to quash</a> the subpoena Nov. 5, citing Florida’s qualified reporter’s privilege, which protects journalists from disclosing newsgathering materials.</p><p data-block-key=\"j9vl\">The filing argued that there were no allegations that McClatchy or the Herald had a role in the production of the article and therefore no basis for arguing that the requested communications are “highly relevant” to the airline’s claims.</p><p data-block-key=\"83i0m\">“Conjecture or speculation that a fishing expedition into another media organization’s files might turn up something that Plaintiff thinks could be helpful is decidedly insufficient to overcome the privilege,” the motion said.</p><p data-block-key=\"eheph\">Magistrate Judge Jared Strauss sided with McClatchy on Nov. 19, <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000/gov.uscourts.flsd.650000.98.0.pdf\">ruling</a> that — even if Dobrovolskaya had initially pitched the article to the Herald — the airline had speculated without basis on why the newspaper declined to publish it.</p><p data-block-key=\"f013f\">“And speculation does not cut it, particularly when Plaintiff bears a ‘heavy burden’ of satisfying this element by ‘clear and convincing evidence,’” Strauss wrote.</p><p data-block-key=\"81p37\">The Herald did not respond to a request for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"pz7ss\">A portion of the subpoena issued to the Miami Herald on Oct. 31, 2024, by Monarch Air. It was part of its defamation suit against a different news outlet, seeking communications around the newspaper’s decision not to publish an article about the airline.</p>",
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{
"title": "Trump filed or threatened multiple lawsuits against outlets ahead of election",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/trump-filed-or-threatened-multiple-lawsuits-against-outlets-ahead-of-election/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-27T18:53:33.378858Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-27T18:53:33.378858Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-27T18:45:09.261388Z",
"date": "2024-10-31",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Palm Beach",
"longitude": -80.03643,
"latitude": 26.70562,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"z1xob\">In the week before the 2024 election, attorneys representing Donald Trump pursued legal action against multiple news outlets they alleged were biased against the Republican nominee and had defamed him or attempted to sway the election in favor of his opponent.</p><p data-block-key=\"98jpk\">An attorney in Palm Beach, Florida, sent a letter to The New York Times and Penguin Random House in late October, <a href=\"https://www.cjr.org/the_trump_reader/trump-threatens-new-york-times-penguin-random-house-critical-coverage.php\">according to the Columbia Journalism Review</a>, demanding $10 billion in damages for “false and defamatory statements” about Trump by multiple Times journalists.</p><p data-block-key=\"1cc6n\">The letter, reviewed by CJR, pointed to articles by Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt, Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.</p><p data-block-key=\"3iq4b\">“There was a time, long ago, when the New York Times was considered the ‘newspaper of record,’” the letter reportedly said. “Those halcyon days have passed.” CJR added that the letter accused the Times of being “a full-throated mouthpiece of the Democratic Party” that employs “industrial-scale libel against political opponents.”</p><p data-block-key=\"dm7nr\">The Times responded to the letter Oct. 31, according to CJR, directing Trump’s attorney to Penguin Random House for claims concerning the book coauthored by Buettner and Craig, and stating that it stands by the reporting of its staff. A spokesperson for the Times declined to comment when reached by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"dcaeq\">That same day, attorneys filed a federal lawsuit on Trump’s behalf <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/politics-and-the-press/#Oct-31-2024-Trump\">against CBS Broadcasting</a>, alleging that the network was attempting to influence the election by favorably editing an interview with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.</p><p data-block-key=\"ccpsi\">In the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Trump charges CBS “doctored” a Harris exchange over U.S. relations with Israel as part of an effort to “confuse, deceive, and mislead the public” about her alleged weaknesses as a candidate.</p><p data-block-key=\"esoab\">Trump had repeatedly disparaged the network since the interview aired Oct. 7, threatening legal action, demanding it<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/politics-and-the-press/#Oct-21-2024-Trump\"> release unedited tapes</a> and transcripts and calling for CBS to be<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/politics-and-the-press/#Oct-10-2024-Trump\"> taken off the air.</a></p><p data-block-key=\"1pg4i\">In an emailed statement to the Tracker, a spokesperson for CBS said: “Former President Trump’s repeated claims against 60 Minutes are false. The Interview was not doctored; and ‘60 Minutes’ did not hide any part of the Vice President’s answer to the question at issue. ‘60 Minutes’ fairly presented the Interview to inform the viewing audience, and not to mislead it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6ih2j\">The spokesperson added, “The lawsuit Trump has brought today against CBS is completely without merit and we will vigorously defend against it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b94on\">The suit — in which Trump also sought $10 billion in damages — bases its claims on CBS’ alleged violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act, normally meant to protect consumers from being misled by advertisers.</p><p data-block-key=\"bfkab\">But several legal observers dismissed the claim as frivolous. First Amendment expert Floyd Abrams told CNN the First Amendment was drafted to protect the press from such lawsuits, and scholar Geoffrey Stone called it a “misapplication” of the law.</p><p data-block-key=\"a3ici\">“That statute is about sales — a salesperson can be held liable for stating that a product has certain positive effects when he knows it doesn’t,” Stone told CBS News. “But CBS is not engaged in advertising here.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4a9c7\">On Nov. 5, Trump’s campaign co-chief Chris LaCivita also issued a letter to The Daily Beast, demanding that it correct articles stating that LaCivita raised $22 million for Trump’s reelection, CJR reported.</p><p data-block-key=\"5qbbs\">In response, the outlet added editor’s notes stating: “Based on a further review of FEC records, the correct total is $19.2m. The Beast regrets the error. The article has also been updated to make clear that payments were to LaCivita’s LLC not to LaCivita personally.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bs85a\">Trump’s campaign found the note insufficient and, according to CJR, said in a follow-up legal letter that it “does not remedy the overall messaging of the story—which depicts Mr. LaCivita as deceptively pocketing campaign money for his own personal gain and that he was and is on the verge of being ‘fired’ because of it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b17r1\">The Beast did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.</p><p data-block-key=\"fadpi\">Trump has sustained his hostile comments toward the press in the wake of the election: During his Nov. 6 victory speech, for instance, he referred to the media as “<a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/trump-media-enemy-camp-speech\">the enemy camp</a>,” and he has continued his <a href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/113419547333321006\">tirades</a> <a href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/113516968142292237\">against</a> <a href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/113547497507469626\">journalists</a> on social media.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ye6b3\">President-elect Donald Trump gives a victory speech to his supporters at a rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2024. During his address, he referred to the media as “the enemy camp.”</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"name": "Florida",
"abbreviation": "FL"
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"targeted_institutions": [
"CBS News",
"The Daily Beast"
],
"tags": [
"Donald Trump"
],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Chilling Statement"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Peter Baker (The New York Times)",
"Michael S. Schmidt (The New York Times)",
"Susanne Craig (The New York Times)",
"Russ Buettner (The New York Times)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
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{
"title": "New York, Ohio candidates accuse news outlets of election interference",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/new-york-ohio-candidates-accuse-news-outlets-of-election-interference/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-06T17:38:20.370317Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-06T17:38:20.370317Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-06T17:38:20.262205Z",
"date": "2024-10-30",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Multiple",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2ovx0\">Candidates running in the 2024 elections in New York and Ohio accused news outlets of election interference in separate incidents in late October.</p><p data-block-key=\"4n077\">Rep. Elise Stefanik, in a <a href=\"https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1851681209622962670\">post on the social media platform X</a>, accused North Country Public Radio of “election interference” on Oct. 30, after one of its journalists posted an inaccurate report on X about the location in upstate New York where Stefanik voted early.</p><p data-block-key=\"dkq61\">Stefanik, a Republican, included a screenshot of NCPR reporter Emily Russell’s post stating that the New York representative had cast her early ballot in the state’s 20th District, even though she is running for reelection in the 21st District.</p><p data-block-key=\"5ihtq\">Stefanik noted that the location where she cast her ballot was open to all voters in Saratoga County, and alleged that NCPR “sent out false information and spread misinformation about early voting locations in my district to suppress the vote.”</p><p data-block-key=\"23ut8\">Stefanik added, “We have received calls into our office of confused voters due to this desperate election interference by an NPR affiliate.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9j4vq\">Stefanik also vowed, “And I will DEFUND NPR!”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">🚨🚨ELECTION INTERFERENCE BY NY NPR AFFILIATE <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ncpr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ncpr</a> 🚨🚨 <br><br>The disgraced New York NPR affiliate <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ncpr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ncpr</a> just sent out false information and spread misinformation about early voting locations targeting voters in my district to suppress the vote. This is blatant and illegal election… <a href=\"https://t.co/JM6pFyHDJE\">pic.twitter.com/JM6pFyHDJE</a></p>— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1851681209622962670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2ovx0\">NPR is <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances\">partly funded</a> by the federal government through grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Republican legislators have <a href=\"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senator-eyes-legislation-defund-propagandist-npr-suspension-whistleblower\">previously threatened</a> to introduce legislation to cut the broadcaster’s funding due to what they described as its left-wing bias.</p><p data-block-key=\"c796h\">Russell later that day deleted the post due to what she <a href=\"https://x.com/EmilyRussellADK/status/1851677952439685352\">called</a> “a misunderstanding about the details of a polling location,” adding, “I apologize for the error.”</p><p data-block-key=\"dh4oa\">Stefanik and NCPR did not respond to requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"d3pjo\">In the Ohio incident, Dawn Zinni, a candidate for recorder in Trumbull County, sued reporter David Skolnick and the Tribune Chronicle on Oct. 31, alleging that “The Tribune is a liberal Democrat publication that, with malicious intent, publicizes conservative Trump supporters like Zinni in a ‘false light,’” according to court documents reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"28nic\">The lawsuit described Zinni as “a Republican, a devout Christian, and a supporter of Donald J. Trump.” It accused Skolnick of “biased, discriminatory, and unbalanced” reporting on business-related lawsuits that Zinni faced, of failing to cover similar litigation faced by incumbent male Democratic officials and of openly criticizing Zinni’s Christian faith.</p><p data-block-key=\"50q9n\">The suit seeks $1 million in punitive damages and $25,000 in compensatory damages.</p><p data-block-key=\"1tad6\">Zinni’s attorney, Sean Logue, and the Tribune Chronicle did not reply to requests for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTS19OQYA.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"tacqn\">Rep. Elise Stefanik speaks at an Oct. 27, 2024, rally for Donald Trump in New York City. Three days later, Stefanik accused an upstate New York NPR affiliate of election interference and threatened to defund the broadcaster.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
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"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": null,
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"North Country Public Radio"
],
"tags": [
"election",
"Election 2024"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Chilling Statement"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"David Skolnick ([Warren] Tribune Chronicle)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "News outlet subpoenaed by state of Texas in its suit against Google",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/news-outlet-subpoenaed-by-state-of-texas-in-its-suit-against-google/",
"first_published_at": "2024-12-10T19:45:53.502696Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-12-10T19:45:53.502696Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-12-10T19:04:44.443693Z",
"date": "2024-10-22",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Midland",
"longitude": -102.07791,
"latitude": 31.99735,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5z5mw\">Digital news outlet 404 Media was subpoenaed by the state of Texas on Oct. 22, 2024, in connection with an ongoing lawsuit against Google in Midland County’s district court, according to court filings reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"66njm\">Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-sues-google-allegedly-capturing-biometric-data-millions-without-consent-2022-10-20/?ref=404media.co\">sued Google</a> in 2022 on the state’s behalf, alleging that the company captured the biometric data of millions of its users in Texas without obtaining consent.</p><p data-block-key=\"a0tbq\">The <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25450240-dark-moderedcted-redacted/?ref=404media.co\">subpoena</a> to 404 Media seeks communications and documents from investigative journalist Joseph Cox’s <a href=\"https://www.404media.co/google-leak-reveals-thousands-of-privacy-incidents/\">article</a> on a leak from Google, including a copy of an internal Google database obtained by the outlet “which tracks six years worth of potential privacy and security issues.”</p><p data-block-key=\"63ps9\">In an <a href=\"https://www.404media.co/404-media-objects-to-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-subpoena-to-access-our-reporting/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter\">announcement</a>, 404 Media’s founders wrote, “Paxton’s subpoena seeks to turn 404 Media into an arm of law enforcement, which is not our role and which we have no interest in doing or becoming.”</p><p data-block-key=\"45kr2\">They added that attorneys representing the outlet “vociferously objected” to the subpoena on Dec. 6. The <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25450241-404mediaobjections/?ref=404media.co\">court filing</a>, reviewed by the Tracker, argues the news organization is protected from having to disclose the information by the First Amendment, as well as laws in California — where the outlet is based — and Texas.</p><p data-block-key=\"bgt6a\">404 Media’s founders, who declined to comment further when reached by the Tracker, wrote that the subpoena undermines a free and independent press and demonstrates an alarming trend.</p><p data-block-key=\"8qfeh\">“It also highlights the fact that the alarm bells that have been raised about legal attacks on journalists in a second Trump administration are not theoretical; politicians already feel emboldened to use the legal system to target journalists,” they wrote. “Paxton’s subpoena highlights the urgency of passing the PRESS Act, a federal shield law that has already passed the House and which has bipartisan support but which Democrats in the Senate have dragged their feet on for inexplicable and indefensible reasons.”</p><p data-block-key=\"eicqr\">Paxton had previously <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/texas-attorney-general-subpoenas-media-matters-after-report-on-x/\">sought records</a> from Media Matters for America using a “civil investigative demand” — a type of administrative subpoena — in 2023 as part of a probe his office launched to investigate “potential fraudulent activity” by the media company. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction forbidding Paxton from pursuing Media Matters’ reporting materials.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/404_Media_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ct7di\">A portion of the subpoena the state of Texas issued to digital news outlet 404 Media on Oct. 22, 2024. The subpoena seeks communications, work product and a copy of a leaked Google database obtained by the outlet.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": "State",
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Texas",
"abbreviation": "TX"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"404 Media"
],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Student journalist detained at University of Minnesota protest",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/student-journalist-detained-at-university-of-minnesota-protest/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-23T18:22:35.119960Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-28T15:54:48.692060Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-28T15:54:48.455526Z",
"date": "2024-10-21",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Minneapolis",
"longitude": -93.26384,
"latitude": 44.97997,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"800c6\">Student journalist Tyler Church was briefly handcuffed and detained while reporting student protests against the Israel-Gaza war at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Oct. 21, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"65rrt\">The Minnesota Daily, the university’s student-led news outlet, <a href=\"https://mndaily.com/290417/top-story/pro-palestine-protesters-attempt-to-occupy-administration-building/\">reported</a> that the protest was organized by members of the UMN’s Students for a Democratic Society chapter to pressure the administration to divest from investments in Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers.</p><p data-block-key=\"2l1qr\">Daily reporter Church told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he learned of the building takeover from a <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/protesters-storm-morrill-hall-university-of-minnesota-minneapolis/\">push notification</a> from the university, which said that students had stormed Morrill Hall, an administrative building, and were “causing property damage and restricting entrance and exit from the building.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9h0q9\">Church said that after reporting outside alongside two other Daily journalists for about 30 minutes, the protesters let them into the building. He added that the outlet’s editor-in-chief, Spencer White, brought the journalists steel plate vests labeled with “PRESS” to wear while inside.</p><p data-block-key=\"88e8a\">“More or less, we just looked around, assessed the damages so far, prepared to set up interviews with some protesters and got general coverage of the event so far,” Church told the Tracker. “I had had a meeting set up with one of the protesters, followed by another protester joining. During the middle of that interview, the police had started clearing buildings from the basement, which was where I was.”</p><p data-block-key=\"48ie6\">Officers with the University of Minnesota Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office entered the building through basement tunnels at approximately 5:45 p.m., the Daily <a href=\"https://mndaily.com/290460/top-story/minnesota-daily-reporter-detained-belongings-confiscated/\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"cknh2\">“Police broke down the door, weapons drawn, and hauled us to the ground,” Church said. “During that, I said multiple times, ‘I’m with the media, I’m press, I’m with The Minnesota Daily.’ Even still, they told me that it didn’t matter and that I had to get on the ground. They handcuffed me and put me with everyone else who had been detained.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Minnesota Daily <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mndailynews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@mndailynews</a> reporter Tyler Church was briefly handcuffed and detained when police arrested protesters at Morrill Hall a little over an hour ago <a href=\"https://t.co/Jn7GnHpNT1\">pic.twitter.com/Jn7GnHpNT1</a></p>— Hannah Ward (@wordfromward) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/wordfromward/status/1848516855008293126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 22, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"800c6\">When his fellow Daily reporters were escorted to the basement along with the demonstrators, they questioned the officers about why Church had been detained and placed in zip cuffs. Church told the Tracker that after about 20 minutes, an officer decided to release him.</p><p data-block-key=\"4no25\">“They struggled with the handcuffs because the handcuffs were put on me so tightly that they were actually digging into my wrist,” he said. “Eventually, the cop had gotten one off me and gave me the scissors to do the other one because he didn't feel comfortable cutting them because they were so close to my wrist.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6mh6b\">Church told officers his backpack — containing his laptop and two notebooks with journalistic work, as well as his coursework — was upstairs, but they said they were unable to find it and directed him to retrieve it from the department’s offices the following day.</p><p data-block-key=\"aa4j8\">Officers told the three Daily reporters and a journalist from The Minnesota Star Tribune to remain in the basement until the building was cleared, Church said, and ultimately led them out through the tunnels several hours later. Eleven protesters were arrested, according to the Daily.</p><p data-block-key=\"7u888\">Both White and one of the other Daily reporters told the Tracker that Church was the only journalist detained or handcuffed that day. The editor added that the Daily staff were glad Church was OK and that they are working to recover the items seized by the university police officers.</p><p data-block-key=\"bs15j\">Church told the Tracker that when he attempted to retrieve his equipment, the university police’s office was closed, with a contact number posted on the door. He said he left a voicemail, and an officer eventually told him he could retrieve his belongings when the office reopened, but didn’t clarify when that would be.</p><p data-block-key=\"dfvas\">The University of Minnesota Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Church_arrest.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"a1zuh\">Tyler Church, a journalist for the University of Minnesota’s student news outlet The Minnesota Daily, was briefly detained and handcuffed while reporting on a pro-Palestinian protest on the university’s Minneapolis campus on Oct. 21, 2024.</p>",
"arresting_authority": "University of Minnesota Police Department",
"arrest_status": "detained and released without being processed",
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": "2024-10-21",
"unnecessary_use_of_force": true,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": "returned in full",
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
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"assailant": null,
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"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "computer"
},
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "equipment bag"
},
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "press identification"
},
{
"quantity": 2,
"equipment": "work product"
}
],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Minnesota",
"abbreviation": "MN"
},
"updates": [
"(2024-10-23 11:45:00+00:00) Student journalist’s equipment returned following detainment at protest"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"Israel-Gaza war",
"protest",
"student journalism"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Arrest/Criminal Charge",
"Equipment Search or Seizure"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Tyler Church ([University of] Minnesota Daily)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Photojournalist shoved to ground by police outside Trump event",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalist-shoved-to-ground-by-police-outside-trump-event/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-28T14:29:54.158887Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-28T14:29:54.158887Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-28T14:24:56.088554Z",
"date": "2024-10-20",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Lancaster",
"longitude": -76.30551,
"latitude": 40.03788,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"rzjon\">Freelance photojournalist Susan Stava was shoved to the ground by police while reporting outside a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"c87t9\">Stava told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker she went to cover the town hall event at the Lancaster County Convention Center but stayed outside to conduct interviews as part of an ongoing project about women who support the former president.</p><p data-block-key=\"44i51\">“I went to leave and I saw a bunch of demonstrators outside in Lancaster Square, and it was basically a Harris group, and what struck me was it was pretty peaceful and the Harris-Walz group was just mingling with the Trump supporters,” she said. “It got a little crazy around the center, where there were a bunch of kids that were sort of antagonizing the Harris supporters.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2tbu7\">Then a woman Stava had been speaking with noticed that her friend was under arrest following an altercation.</p><p data-block-key=\"dbs8d\">“We all were going around to see where they were taking her, and it was sort of on the street and I was going to actually run to the other corner of the street when I could, to get a front shot of her coming toward me,” she said. “And I never got there.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9dj2g\">Stava said an officer suddenly broadsided her, shoving her to the ground.</p><p data-block-key=\"606nd\">“I landed on my back, and I really didn’t know what hit me,” she told the Tracker. “He didn’t even bother to see if I was OK. He just backed up, standing there. Another cop came over and hoisted me up very quickly without assuring that I wasn’t injured.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6ee2r\">She said she was examined by emergency responders at the scene and they transported her to a hospital to ensure that she didn’t have any internal bleeding. Stava said she suffered from whiplash and has a “huge lump” on her head, a large bruise on her arm and jaw pain. One of her camera lenses was also damaged during the incident.</p><p data-block-key=\"2g68a\">“I’ve been in this business for 30-35 years: I’ve never had that happen,” Stava said. “I’ve been to January 6, I’ve been to all kinds of places and I’m pretty careful. I’m very savvy about what’s around me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6dopf\">Stava told the Tracker that after she was released from the hospital she went straight to the Lancaster City Bureau of Police to file a complaint about the incident.</p><p data-block-key=\"mpsd\">Women Press Freedom <a href=\"https://www.womeninjournalism.org/alerts/united-states-women-press-freedom-denounces-violent-assault-on-photojournalist-susan-stava-by-lancaster-city-police-officer\">condemned</a> the “violent actions” taken by the police officer, stating that it was “a clear violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists to report safely and without interference.”</p><p data-block-key=\"encb6\">“This incident not only highlights the concerning aggression faced by journalists in the field but also raises serious questions about the training and conduct of law enforcement officers,” the advocacy organization wrote in its statement. “We call for a thorough investigation into this incident, and we urge the Lancaster City Police to take immediate action to address the serious issues raised by Stava’s experience.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9uqt5\">When reached by email, the police directed the Tracker to its <a href=\"https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/lbop/19659/post/lancaster-city-police-conclude-investigation-officers-conduct-sunday-october-20\">statement</a> issued on Oct. 23, announcing that it had completed its investigation and concluded that the officer had not engaged in any misconduct.</p><p data-block-key=\"aeotj\">“A scene like this can escalate quickly and officers may not always be able to immediately identify an individual’s intent when the group is rapidly moving toward a restricted area,” the statement said. “It’s important for everyone, including media personnel, to remain aware of their surroundings during dynamic situations where safety conditions can change rapidly.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3t9ap\">Stava told the Tracker that she has been in contact with the National Press Photographers Association and is considering next steps.</p><p data-block-key=\"47sp5\">“I’m worried about the fascist directions the cops and the police department are going into. I don’t know if journalists are being singled out, I don’t know what’s happening for sure, but that’s my sense. So, big concern,” Stava said.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Stava_assault__ED.56bc1574.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"tykyk\">Photojournalist Susan Stava, at center with black backpack, is seen falling to the ground after being shoved while reporting on protests outside a Trump campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 2024. Her camera lens was damaged in the fall.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": "law enforcement",
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": "law enforcement",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera lens"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Pennsylvania",
"abbreviation": "PA"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"election",
"Election 2024",
"political rally",
"protest"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Susan Stava (Freelance)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "NBC News broadcast camera seized outside Indiana courthouse",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nbc-news-broadcast-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-24T21:12:16.648198Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-30T20:56:09.864422Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-30T20:56:09.650941Z",
"date": "2024-10-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Delphi",
"longitude": -86.67501,
"latitude": 40.58754,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"e516x\">An unidentified NBC photojournalist was one of several journalists whose cameras were seized outside a courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of a murder trial with <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/17/opening-statements-friday-in-delphi-murder-suspect-richard-allens-trial/75721633007/\">strict media</a> access restrictions.</p><p data-block-key=\"9kig6\">In a ruling in June ahead of the trial for Richard Allen in the alleged murder of two teens in 2017, Special Judge Frances Gull wrote that “the court has lost confidence in the ability of the media to cover hearings appropriately.” Gull then gave a media orientation Oct. 17, the Indianapolis Star <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/18/delphi-murders-trial-update-photographers-cameras-media-court-rules-carroll-county-judge-gull/75731723007/\">reported</a>, specifying that photographs or video of jurors was forbidden, and that no electronic devices would be permitted in the courtroom.</p><p data-block-key=\"7a3jq\">Journal & Courier photojournalist Alex Martin told the Star that the following morning he saw two vans approaching the Carroll County Courthouse where tarps had been placed over the fences. Martin said he lowered one camera to his hip and placed a second on the ground.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">8. The judge reminded media of her order that jurors are NOT to be photographed. She said new fencing/tarps on the west side of the courthouse—where jurors will enter & exit—is intentional to protect their privacy & safety. Thats where Gull & Allen will also enter/exit. 10/ <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/wthr?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wthr</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/YsFG5GLXMc\">pic.twitter.com/YsFG5GLXMc</a></p>— Bob Segall (@BobSegallWTHR) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BobSegallWTHR/status/1847121468766691379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"e516x\">After the passengers disembarked, officers arrived and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/indiana-photojournalists-cameras-confiscated-outside-courthouse/\">confiscated his cameras</a>, as well as a camera belonging to NBC News, two belonging to an <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ap-photojournalists-cameras-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">AP photojournalist</a> and a still camera belonging to an unidentified photojournalist, according to <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/abby-libby-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-trial-9d9756a1e076edaa2f0694a2b54ab3da\">multiple</a> <a href=\"https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/day-one-in-court-delphi-murders-trial\">media</a> <a href=\"https://www.21alivenews.com/2024/10/18/watch-live-first-day-delphi-murders-trial-underway-carroll-county/\">reports</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"3tgb2\">NBC News did not respond to a request for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"5i1uk\">Martin told the Star that he and the other visual journalists had been standing in an approved area outside the courthouse. It has yet to be determined if and when the cameras will be returned, but the trial is expected to last four weeks.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"vgaco\">Spectators line up to enter the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, to observe a murder trial starting on Oct. 18, 2024. A broadcast camera belonging to NBC News was seized by authorities outside the courthouse.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Indiana",
"abbreviation": "IN"
},
"updates": [
"(2024-10-21 16:44:00+00:00) NBC News footage deleted, camera returned after it was seized outside courthouse"
],
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},
{
"title": "Indiana photojournalist’s cameras confiscated outside courthouse",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/indiana-photojournalists-cameras-confiscated-outside-courthouse/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-24T17:59:33.268074Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-30T21:04:28.103330Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-30T21:04:27.884095Z",
"date": "2024-10-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Delphi",
"longitude": -86.67501,
"latitude": 40.58754,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"p8obi\">Alex Martin, a photojournalist for the Journal & Courier, was one of several journalists whose cameras were seized outside a courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of a murder trial with <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/17/opening-statements-friday-in-delphi-murder-suspect-richard-allens-trial/75721633007/\">strict media</a> access restrictions.</p><p data-block-key=\"4r217\">In a ruling in June ahead of the trial for Richard Allen in the alleged murder of two teens in 2017, Special Judge Frances Gull wrote that “the court has lost confidence in the ability of the media to cover hearings appropriately.” Gull then gave a media orientation Oct. 17, the Indianapolis Star <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/18/delphi-murders-trial-update-photographers-cameras-media-court-rules-carroll-county-judge-gull/75731723007/\">reported</a>, specifying that photographs or video of jurors was forbidden, and that no electronic devices would be permitted in the courtroom.</p><p data-block-key=\"1sknb\">The following morning, Martin told the Star, he saw two vans approaching the Carroll County Courthouse where tarps had been placed over the fences. Martin said he lowered one camera to his hip and placed a second on the ground.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">8. The judge reminded media of her order that jurors are NOT to be photographed. She said new fencing/tarps on the west side of the courthouse—where jurors will enter & exit—is intentional to protect their privacy & safety. Thats where Gull & Allen will also enter/exit. 10/ <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/wthr?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wthr</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/YsFG5GLXMc\">pic.twitter.com/YsFG5GLXMc</a></p>— Bob Segall (@BobSegallWTHR) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BobSegallWTHR/status/1847121468766691379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"p8obi\">After the van’s passengers disembarked, officers arrived and confiscated Martin’s cameras, as well as two belonging to Associated Press photojournalist <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ap-photojournalists-cameras-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">Michael Conroy</a>, a broadcast camera belonging to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nbc-news-broadcast-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">NBC News</a> and a still camera belonging to an <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalists-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">unidentified photojournalist</a>, according to <a href=\"https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/day-one-in-court-delphi-murders-trial\">multiple</a> <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/abby-libby-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-trial-9d9756a1e076edaa2f0694a2b54ab3da\">media</a> <a href=\"https://www.21alivenews.com/2024/10/18/watch-live-first-day-delphi-murders-trial-underway-carroll-county/\">reports</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7752v\">“I wasn’t taking pictures of jurors,” Martin told the Star. He also noted that he and the other visual journalists had been standing in an approved area outside the courthouse. It has yet to be determined if and when the cameras will be returned, but the trial is expected to last four weeks.</p><p data-block-key=\"ck2co\">Martin did not respond to requests for additional comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/AP24292483286513.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"7ewyw\">Spectators line up to enter the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, to observe a murder trial starting on Oct. 18, 2024. Authorities seized two cameras belonging to Journal & Courier photojournalist Alex Martin outside the courthouse.</p>",
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"quantity": 2,
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{
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"state": {
"name": "Indiana",
"abbreviation": "IN"
},
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"(2024-10-21 16:49:00+00:00) Indiana photojournalist’s cameras returned after they were seized outside courthouse"
],
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"categories": [
"Equipment Search or Seizure",
"Equipment Damage"
],
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"Alex Martin (Journal & Courier)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Boston TV station complies with order for interview recordings, notes",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/boston-tv-station-complies-with-order-for-interview-recordings-notes/",
"first_published_at": "2025-03-28T17:11:37.191345Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-03-28T17:11:37.191345Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-03-28T17:07:13.473409Z",
"date": "2024-10-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Dedham",
"longitude": -71.16616,
"latitude": 42.24177,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"snnjs\">Broadcast station WFXT, a Fox News affiliate in Boston, was subpoenaed by prosecutors on Oct. 18, 2024, for interview recordings and notes in connection with a murder trial in Dedham, Massachusetts.</p><p data-block-key=\"aa7uo\">A judge upheld the request in December and the outlet turned over the materials in January 2025, according to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"ceaut\">In August 2023, WFXT aired a segment in which reporter Ted Daniel interviewed the parents and brother of Karen Read, who <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5343433/karen-read-second-murder-trial\">stands accused</a> of the murder of her boyfriend in a case that has captured national attention.</p><p data-block-key=\"ft0r9\">After the case against Read ended in a mistrial in July 2024, prosecutors issued multiple subpoenas to news outlets and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-ordered-to-turn-over-notes-communications-around-murder-trial/\">journalists</a> ahead of the April 2025 retrial. Massachusetts does not have a formally recognized reporter’s shield law protecting journalists from being forced to disclose newsgathering materials.</p><p data-block-key=\"5bfsp\">Prosecutors asked Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone to order WFXT to turn over all recordings and notes — including unaired statements — from interviews with Karen Read’s father, William, mother, Janet, and brother, Nathan.</p><p data-block-key=\"fq1vk\">“The unaired statements made by the Reads are relevant and material to put the relevant aired statements, some which will be introduced at trial, in context,” prosecutors wrote in the request. “Further, the absence of details provided in the unaired footage is fertile grounds for examination of witnesses at trial.”</p><p data-block-key=\"c0eb6\">The broadcast station did not file an objection with the court, and on Dec. 5, 2024, Cannone ordered WFXT to comply with the request. According to court filings, the station produced records on Jan. 3, 2025.</p><p data-block-key=\"4oddm\">Prosecutors <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/boston-tv-station-turns-over-interview-recordings-notes-ahead-of-murder-trial\">subpoenaed the station again</a> in February, seeking all recordings and notes from interviews with Karen Read. Cannone granted the request on Feb. 19, and WFXT turned over records to the court on March 3, according to court records.</p><p data-block-key=\"cnii3\">WFXT did not respond to requests for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/WFXT-TV_2024_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"4qz55\">A portion of Massachusetts prosecutors’ Oct. 18, 2024, motion to force WFXT to disclose all interview recordings and notes, including those made off the record, with family members of Karen Read ahead of her retrial on murder charges.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"state": {
"name": "Massachusetts",
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},
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"WFXT"
],
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"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
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},
{
"title": "Photojournalist’s camera seized outside Indiana courthouse",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalists-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-24T21:13:56.022398Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-30T21:16:37.120129Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-30T21:16:36.900942Z",
"date": "2024-10-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Delphi",
"longitude": -86.67501,
"latitude": 40.58754,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"6f405\">Cameras belonging to four journalists were seized outside a courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of a murder trial with <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/17/opening-statements-friday-in-delphi-murder-suspect-richard-allens-trial/75721633007/\">strict media</a> access restrictions.</p><p data-block-key=\"csg31\">In a ruling in June ahead of the trial for Richard Allen in the alleged murder of two teens in 2017, Special Judge Frances Gull wrote that “the court has lost confidence in the ability of the media to cover hearings appropriately.” Gull then gave a media orientation Oct. 17, the Indianapolis Star <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/18/delphi-murders-trial-update-photographers-cameras-media-court-rules-carroll-county-judge-gull/75731723007/\">reported</a>, specifying that photographs or video of jurors was forbidden, and that no electronic devices would be permitted in the courtroom.</p><p data-block-key=\"1ikf4\">Journal & Courier photojournalist Alex Martin told the Star that the following morning he saw two vans approaching the Carroll County Courthouse where tarps had been placed over the fences. Martin said he lowered one camera to his hip and placed a second on the ground.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">8. The judge reminded media of her order that jurors are NOT to be photographed. She said new fencing/tarps on the west side of the courthouse—where jurors will enter & exit—is intentional to protect their privacy & safety. Thats where Gull & Allen will also enter/exit. 10/ <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/wthr?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wthr</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/YsFG5GLXMc\">pic.twitter.com/YsFG5GLXMc</a></p>— Bob Segall (@BobSegallWTHR) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BobSegallWTHR/status/1847121468766691379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"6f405\">After the passengers disembarked, officers arrived and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/indiana-photojournalists-cameras-confiscated-outside-courthouse/\">confiscated his cameras</a>, as well as that of an unidentified photojournalist, two belonging to an <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ap-photojournalists-cameras-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">Associated Press photojournalist</a> and a broadcast camera belonging to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nbc-news-broadcast-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">NBC News</a>, according to <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/abby-libby-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-trial-9d9756a1e076edaa2f0694a2b54ab3da\">multiple</a> <a href=\"https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/day-one-in-court-delphi-murders-trial\">media</a> <a href=\"https://www.21alivenews.com/2024/10/18/watch-live-first-day-delphi-murders-trial-underway-carroll-county/\">reports</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"55gg0\">Martin told the Star that he and the other visual journalists had been standing in an approved area outside the courthouse. It has yet to be determined if and when the cameras will be returned, but the trial is expected to last four weeks.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"6qtxa\">Security stand by a gate outside the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, ahead of the start of a murder trial on Oct. 18, 2024. Officers seized the cameras belonging to multiple journalists standing outside the courthouse that morning.</p>",
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"actor": "law enforcement",
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{
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"equipment": "camera"
},
{
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}
],
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{
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],
"state": {
"name": "Indiana",
"abbreviation": "IN"
},
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"(2024-10-24 16:58:00+00:00) Photojournalist’s camera ordered returned after it was seized outside courthouse"
],
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"categories": [
"Equipment Search or Seizure",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Ryan Delaney (Freelance)"
],
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},
{
"title": "AP photojournalist’s cameras seized outside Indiana courthouse",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ap-photojournalists-cameras-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-24T21:10:27.408361Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-30T21:06:54.553747Z",
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"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Delphi",
"longitude": -86.67501,
"latitude": 40.58754,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"9980q\">A photojournalist for The Associated Press was one of several journalists whose cameras were seized outside a courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of a murder trial with <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/17/opening-statements-friday-in-delphi-murder-suspect-richard-allens-trial/75721633007/\">strict media</a> access restrictions.</p><p data-block-key=\"22vf1\">In a ruling in June ahead of the trial for Richard Allen in the alleged murder of two teens in 2017, Special Judge Frances Gull wrote that “the court has lost confidence in the ability of the media to cover hearings appropriately.” Gull then gave a media orientation Oct. 17, the Indianapolis Star <a href=\"https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/18/delphi-murders-trial-update-photographers-cameras-media-court-rules-carroll-county-judge-gull/75731723007/\">reported</a>, specifying that photographs or video of jurors was forbidden, and that no electronic devices would be permitted in the courtroom.</p><p data-block-key=\"fkgta\">Journal & Courier photojournalist Alex Martin told the Star that the following morning he saw two vans approaching the Carroll County Courthouse where tarps had been placed over the fences. Martin said he lowered one camera to his hip and placed a second on the ground.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">8. The judge reminded media of her order that jurors are NOT to be photographed. She said new fencing/tarps on the west side of the courthouse—where jurors will enter & exit—is intentional to protect their privacy & safety. Thats where Gull & Allen will also enter/exit. 10/ <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/wthr?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wthr</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/YsFG5GLXMc\">pic.twitter.com/YsFG5GLXMc</a></p>— Bob Segall (@BobSegallWTHR) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BobSegallWTHR/status/1847121468766691379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"9980q\">After the passengers disembarked, officers arrived and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/indiana-photojournalists-cameras-confiscated-outside-courthouse/\">confiscated his cameras</a>, as well as a broadcast camera belonging to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nbc-news-broadcast-camera-seized-outside-indiana-courthouse/\">NBC News</a> and a still camera belonging to an unidentified photojournalist, according to multiple <a href=\"https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/day-one-in-court-delphi-murders-trial\">media</a> <a href=\"https://www.21alivenews.com/2024/10/18/watch-live-first-day-delphi-murders-trial-underway-carroll-county/\">reports</a>. The AP <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/abby-libby-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-trial-9d9756a1e076edaa2f0694a2b54ab3da\">reported</a> that two cameras were also seized from one of its photojournalists, believed to be Michael Conroy.</p><p data-block-key=\"623gb\">Conroy did not respond to requests for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"mq7q\">Martin told the Star that he and the other visual journalists had been standing in an approved area outside the courthouse. It has yet to be determined if and when the cameras will be returned, but the trial is expected to last four weeks.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/AP24292480958665.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"7z1m3\">Associated Press photojournalist Michael Conroy photographed spectators lined up at Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Indiana, for a murder trial starting on Oct. 18, 2024. His cameras were believed to have been seized by authorities shortly after.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": "returned in full",
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": "law enforcement",
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
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"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [
{
"quantity": 2,
"equipment": "camera"
},
{
"quantity": 2,
"equipment": "storage device"
}
],
"equipment_broken": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "work product"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Indiana",
"abbreviation": "IN"
},
"updates": [
"(2024-10-21 16:51:00+00:00) AP photojournalist’s cameras returned after they were seized outside courthouse"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Equipment Search or Seizure",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Michael Conroy (The Associated Press)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Broadcast photographer struck with cane amid attempted robbery",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-photographer-struck-with-cane-amid-attempted-robbery/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-29T16:45:38.820578Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-29T16:46:32.981853Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-29T16:46:32.895626Z",
"date": "2024-10-17",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Dayton",
"longitude": -84.19161,
"latitude": 39.75895,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"mt25l\">A broadcaster photographer for NBC television affiliate WDTN was injured when a man struck him with a cane during an attempted robbery in Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 17, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"4qs48\">The station <a href=\"https://www.wdtn.com/news/crime/suspects-charged-with-robbery-of-2-news-crew/\">reported</a> that a photographer and reporter were <a href=\"https://www.wdtn.com/as-seen-on-2-news/reibold-building-resumes-business-following-underground-fire/\">covering the aftermath</a> of an underground fire downtown at approximately 5:15 p.m. when two men attempted to steal their video camera and tripod.</p><p data-block-key=\"79vgt\">The photographer was struggling with one of the assailants when the second struck him with a cane, according to WDTN. The assailants fled a short while later without the equipment.</p><p data-block-key=\"a7tc4\">On Oct. 25, Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck Jr. <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=854497653522569&set=pcb.854497696855898\">announced</a> the arrest and indictment of two men — Billith Lane and Christian Morrow — on charges of robbery with physical harm.</p><p data-block-key=\"9lqha\">“These defendants outrageously robbed a TV news cameraman in broad daylight,” Heck said in a statement. “They needlessly attacked the victim, sending him to the hospital. Such acts of violence demands they be held accountable.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1vm39\">Both Lane and Morrow are being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bonds, and their arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 29, the news release said.</p><p data-block-key=\"5cj78\">WDTN did not respond to a request for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/WDTN_assault_robbery.6a764a56.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"90u20\">A news crew with TV station WDTN was the target of a robbery attempt on Oct. 17, 2024, while covering the aftermath of a fire in downtown Dayton, Ohio. An unidentified videographer suffered minor injuries; two suspects were later arrested.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"robbery"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Unidentified photojournalist 33 (WDTN)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Reporter detained while reporting on LA encampment sweep",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-detained-while-reporting-on-la-encampment-sweep/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-18T17:02:27.350005Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-18T17:02:27.350005Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-18T16:20:26.245779Z",
"date": "2024-10-17",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Los Angeles",
"longitude": -118.24368,
"latitude": 34.05223,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qvnl9\">Lexis-Olivier Ray, an investigative reporter for L.A. Taco, was detained and released without charges while reporting on a homeless encampment cleanup operation in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 17, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"2rklk\">Ray told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he has been covering such operations for months. California has ratcheted up encampment sweeps as <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-homeless-encampment-newsom-7d4478801de6e9f8a708c7c7c6ef3e5f\">part of a campaign</a> by Gov. Gavin Newsom directing cities and state agencies to stop people from sleeping in public spaces.</p><p data-block-key=\"9g432\">Ray arrived to report on a sweep in downtown L.A.’s Skid Row neighborhood at around 10:30 a.m. that day. He said multiple LA Sanitation employees directed him to leave the designated “work zone” when the cleaning began. He was able to continue reporting, however, until just after 11 a.m.</p><p data-block-key=\"9c2q7\">In <a href=\"https://x.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1847013034650488931\">footage</a> Ray captured in the moments before his arrest, the journalist tells a sanitation worker, “I’ll stay out of your way, man, I’m not going to get close.” The worker then tells a pair of Los Angeles Police Department officers, “At this point he’s interfering. I just need him behind the yellow tape that’s up.”</p><p data-block-key=\"47ja2\">An officer then tells Ray that he is under arrest and the clip ends with the reporter’s hands being pulled behind his back.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">While reporting on a sanitation sweep this morning, LAPD officers handcuffed and searched me, confiscated my belongings and put me in the back of a patrol car for about 45 mins. They said they were going to take me "to the station" but a sergeant let me go w/o any charges.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/LATACO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LATACO</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/V1uCHxFsBb\">pic.twitter.com/V1uCHxFsBb</a></p>— Lexis-Olivier Ray (@ShotOn35mm) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1847013034650488931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qvnl9\">Ray told the Tracker that he was held in the back of a police vehicle for approximately 45 minutes before he was released without a citation. He said he didn’t see officers search his equipment after it was taken from him, and all of his belongings were returned to him upon his release.</p><p data-block-key=\"em2kr\">Ray had been threatened with arrest while documenting similar homeless encampment sweeps nearly half a dozen times in recent months, including on <a href=\"https://x.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1828918641812975978\">Aug. 28</a>, <a href=\"https://x.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1836496730902368609\">Sept. 18</a> and <a href=\"https://x.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1844435110432780515\">Oct. 10</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"85k99\">“Threats of arrests definitely have a chilling effect,” Ray wrote. “And I can’t do my job to the best of my ability if I’m in handcuffs.”</p><p data-block-key=\"52vu\">Attorneys with the ACLU of Southern California and First Amendment Coalition <a href=\"https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-10-08-Ray-Letter.pdf\">sent a letter</a> on Oct. 8 to LAPD Chief Dominic Choi, asking that he take action to ensure that such threats cease.</p><p data-block-key=\"c9bma\">“Mr. Ray was not obstructing any city employees when he was threatened with arrest, and his presence at the encampment sites did not present any safety risk,” the letter stated. “The arrest threats therefore infringed on Mr. Ray’s First Amendment rights to observe and document these operations, which are of immense public concern.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b3maa\">Journalists from <a href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article291551465.html\">Sacramento</a> to Los Angeles have had their access restricted or been forced to leave cleanup operations under threat of arrest. On the day of Ray’s arrest, a second journalist, <a href=\"https://x.com/johngreenla/status/1847073745539625174\">Jonathan Green</a>, was also ordered to leave the Skid Row site, and reporter <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-arrested-while-covering-oakland-encampment-cleanup/\">Yesica Prado</a> was arrested on Sept. 17 while covering an operation in Oakland.</p><p data-block-key=\"cu41m\">Freedom of the Press Foundation, of which the Tracker is a project, and a coalition of press freedom and transparency organizations <a href=\"https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/2024/09/coalition-demands-california-officials-respect-role-of-press-at-homeless-encampment-sweeps/\">warned authorities across California</a> that journalists have a right under state law to access restricted areas to document newsworthy events. They urged local governments to operate transparently and respect the role of the press in observing encampment sweeps.</p><p data-block-key=\"dv2ui\">“Homelessness is one of the biggest stories across the state. With recent legal and political developments triggering a new wave of sweeps, Californians are counting on journalists to cover the story,” the Sept. 10 letter said.</p><p data-block-key=\"8jm8\">A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told the Tracker via email that they could not provide any information on the incident because Ray was detained, not arrested.</p><p data-block-key=\"5il2o\">An officer at the scene <a href=\"https://x.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1847081216798855569\">made the same distinction</a> to Ray, and told the journalist he was being released because the officer had determined that there wasn’t a violation of the Los Angeles municipal code “due to your media First Amendment status.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After I was handcuffed and held in an LAPD patrol car for around 40 minutes for filming a sweep, Sgt. Hutchins explained that I was "detained" and not "arrested" because he determined "there wasn't a violation of the LMC code" due to my "media 1st Amendment status." <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LATACO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LATACO</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/1DLG2rtc48\">pic.twitter.com/1DLG2rtc48</a></p>— Lexis-Olivier Ray (@ShotOn35mm) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ShotOn35mm/status/1847081216798855569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qvnl9\">L.A. Taco was <a href=\"https://x.com/LATACO/status/1847004951681421533\">expected to make a statement</a> about the arrest but had not by deadline.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Ray_arrest_10_17.d4f8d0d1.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"fomug\">Lexis-Olivier Ray, an investigative reporter for L.A. Taco, was detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers while reporting on a homeless encampment sweep on Oct. 17, 2024. He was released without charges after approximately 45 minutes.</p>",
"arresting_authority": "Los Angeles Police Department",
"arrest_status": "detained and released without being processed",
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": "2024-10-17",
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "California",
"abbreviation": "CA"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"encampment"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Arrest/Criminal Charge"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Lexis-Olivier Ray (L.A. Taco)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Ohio county staffer posts attack on local reporter; state AG to investigate",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ohio-county-staffer-posts-attack-on-local-reporter-state-ag-to-investigate/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-08T14:42:02.508155Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-08T14:42:02.508155Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-08T14:41:58.855792Z",
"date": "2024-10-14",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Tiffin",
"longitude": -83.17797,
"latitude": 41.1145,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qkr17\">Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino and her journalistic integrity were attacked in an article published on the government website for Seneca County, Ohio, on Oct. 14, 2024. Nearly two weeks later, the county prosecutor asked Ohio’s attorney general to investigate the incident for possible misuse of government resources.</p><p data-block-key=\"elehj\">The newspaper <a href=\"https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/545619/county-cries-foul-for-frankart/\">reported</a> that Sheri Trusty, a media relations coordinator for the county, <a href=\"https://tiffinohio.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/seneca_county_kayla_trevino_story.pdf\">authored an article</a> attacking Trevino for her coverage of a child custody dispute involving Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart.</p><p data-block-key=\"aa3v3\">The article — which included a photo of Trevino — accused the journalist of going on a “witch hunt,” alleging that she manufactured or failed to verify facts in her reporting and did not provide Frankart sufficient time to respond before publishing.</p><p data-block-key=\"138ff\">“Trevino’s story is a failed exposé marked by faulty journalism and sensationalism and is a little-disguised attempt to destroy the reputation of one of Seneca County’s most respected and dedicated elected officials, Commissioner Bill Frankart,” Trusty wrote. “In the end, Trevino’s lack of integrity in this story may impact the well-being of a child.”</p><p data-block-key=\"cli04\">Trusty’s article was <a href=\"https://tiffinohio.net/2024/10/15/seneca-county-deletes-controversial-post-targeting-local-reporter-following-backlash/\">removed</a> from the county website sometime the following day.</p><p data-block-key=\"813lq\">The Advertiser-Tribune defended Trevino and her article, writing that her report was “entirely based on allegations in police reports and court records.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3m23s\">“Kayla is a hardworking professional. She was very careful with how she approached this news story, and is careful with all stories she covers,” Jeremy Speer, the newspaper’s publisher, said. “A good reporter is a value to a community and Kayla is a good and trusted reporter.”</p><p data-block-key=\"544ub\">Local news website TiffinOhio.net <a href=\"https://tiffinohio.net/2024/10/14/tensions-rise-between-seneca-county-and-advertiser-tribune-over-frankart-coverage/\">reported</a> that the publication of Trusty’s article on the county’s government website — typically reserved for public information and announcements — was alarming and raised questions about whether county resources had been misused developing and publishing it.</p><p data-block-key=\"ag2m\">In an <a href=\"https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/546390/stop-misusing-county-resources/\">editorial</a> published Oct. 19, the Advertiser-Tribune called on Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine to launch or ask for an independent investigation.</p><p data-block-key=\"aqulj\">“The article attacking the integrity and motives of the A-T’s reporter was inaccurate and offensive, designed, it seems, to intimidate her and prevent her from doing her job,” the editorial said. “This was entirely inappropriate, in our view, and DeVine and commissioners must take immediate action to ensure that county resources are never again misused in this way to attack anyone, ever.”</p><p data-block-key=\"5r5gp\">On Oct. 23, DeVine asked Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to assign state agents to investigate the issue and for the AG’s office to serve as special prosecutor, in light of DeVine’s conflict of interest as the legal representative for the county’s board of commissioners, the Advertiser-Tribune <a href=\"https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/547400/devine-made-right-decision/\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7c2lf\">The newspaper expressed cautious optimism about the decision.</p><p data-block-key=\"ad44n\">“Nobody is looking for the proverbial pound of flesh,” the editorial board said. “But, in our view, it is an important question whether county resources were used to attack a reporter because a county official did not like what was being reported. If that did happen, steps must be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Screenshot_2024-11-07_at_2.31.59P.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"du50q\">A portion of an Oct. 14, 2024, article published on the government website for Seneca County, Ohio, which attacked Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino. The state attorney general is investigating whether government resources were misused.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Kayla Trevino (The Advertiser-Tribune)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Journalist briefly detained while covering pro-Palestinian protest on Wall Street",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-briefly-detained-while-covering-pro-palestinian-protest-on-wall-street/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-17T19:13:56.734217Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-17T19:13:56.734217Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-17T19:11:22.232205Z",
"date": "2024-10-14",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2434j\">Freelance journalist Talia Ben-Ora was briefly detained and handcuffed while reporting on a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on Oct. 14, 2024.</p><p data-block-key=\"27v7d\">Ben-Ora told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the group Jewish Voice for Peace had organized a sit-in before the exchange’s opening bell that day, with demonstrators wearing shirts and carrying banners opposing the U.S. arming of Israel.</p><p data-block-key=\"2ee3i\">“At one point a group of people just kind of rushed into this weird, gated area that’s still on the street outside the New York Stock Exchange but for some reason is fenced off,” she said. “They ran in there and so I followed after them and was documenting — as were two or three other photographers.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3pad2\">She said that in addition to filming the crowd, she also captured footage of New York City Police Department officers speaking in a group nearby, noting that she was always around 15 feet away from them.</p><p data-block-key=\"co1t5\">A pair of officers approached her soon after, she said, and one of them, a community affairs officer, asked if she could “go the other way.” When she expressed confusion and said that she was working, he threatened to charge her with trespassing, which she said she brushed off.</p><p data-block-key=\"1orcs\">“That’s not a real thing to ask someone. And I was just like, ‘No, leave me alone. I’m working, I have my press credentials displayed, I have my professional camera out, I’m shooting footage,” Ben-Ora said. “I have already been derailed from doing my reporting by having that threat issued.”</p><p data-block-key=\"41lvs\">She told the Tracker that the pair of officers walked away, but 10 minutes later she was filming the arrival of an NYPD special operations team when she saw a supervisory officer point at her.</p><p data-block-key=\"6vvge\">In Ben-Ora’s <a href=\"https://x.com/taliaotg/status/1845828409890386187\">footage</a>, the officer points directly at her and can be heard saying, in part, “right here filming, get her back.” She identified the officer as John D’Adamo, who is the deputy chief commanding officer of the department’s Strategic Response Group, a heavily armored unit used for crowd control.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Was just detained and released by NYPD. Was filming NYPD ESU arrive to check out the people chained to NYSE.<br><br>White shirt called for my arrest, seemingly for documenting them, then Corbisiero had me released after exiting after telling him I received no clear directive to leave. <a href=\"https://t.co/4iKbI5ZozI\">pic.twitter.com/4iKbI5ZozI</a></p>— Talia Jane ❤️🔥 (@taliaotg) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1845828409890386187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2434j\">“I have a feeling I’m about to get arrested just for filming, but that seems absurd,” she told the Tracker. “So I start to back up and pan across the crowd a little bit like, ‘OK, well, this is going to be my last shot maybe.’ And then I move toward the fence and I hand my phone and camera to a random person.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9roub\">Ben-Ora told the Tracker her main concern was the security of her SD cards and the photos, videos and other data contained on her cellphone, and that she instructed the person to bring her belongings to a specific photographer covering the demonstration.</p><p data-block-key=\"22vfj\">When she turned around, she said officers were coming toward her so she walked toward them and then they grabbed her arms and put them behind her back, placing her in flex cuffs as the crowd is heard chanting “Hands off press!”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Someone with a press badge is today’s first arrest <a href=\"https://t.co/fzqORRZFH0\">pic.twitter.com/fzqORRZFH0</a></p>— Sophie Hurwitz (@sophiehurwitz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/sophiehurwitz/status/1845825748872859865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2434j\">She said she asked the officers why she was being detained, but they didn’t seem to know.</p><p data-block-key=\"ee935\">“Then a white shirt comes over as I’m saying this and he says, ‘Well, you didn’t leave when you were told. You were told to leave,’” Ben-Ora said, recounting the arrival of another supervisory officer. “And I was like, ‘No I wasn’t.’ And then I told him verbatim what I was told. And he just goes, ‘All right.’”</p><p data-block-key=\"vo0m\">Moments later an officer told her that they were going to let her go after escorting her out of the gated area, and she was released to much fanfare from the crowd. She said that she was only detained for a minute or two.</p><p data-block-key=\"c8pdm\">“Why did they detain me? Why did they do all of this? If they just wanted me to leave, they could have just said that,” she said.</p><p data-block-key=\"85pru\">Ben-Ora told the Tracker that after removing the flex cuffs, officers asked her for her ID and photographed it, along with her press credentials. When she asked if she was being issued a citation, she was told the photographs were just “for our records.” She said the officers didn’t elaborate on what those records were.</p><p data-block-key=\"91k08\">The New York City Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Ben-Ora_arrest_1014.7a29644b.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"l8ihd\">Freelance journalist Talia Ben-Ora, in green, was briefly detained in zip cuffs while reporting on a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 14, 2024.</p>",
"arresting_authority": "New York City Police Department",
"arrest_status": "detained and released without being processed",
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": "2024-10-14",
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
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},
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"tags": [
"Israel-Gaza war",
"protest"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
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"categories": [
"Arrest/Criminal Charge"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Talia (Jane) Ben-Ora (Freelance)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Journalist who published leaked Vance dossier gets visit from FBI",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-who-published-leaked-vance-dossier-gets-visit-from-fbi/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-31T17:49:48.516882Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-06-05T20:43:58.563434Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-06-05T20:43:58.470341Z",
"date": "2024-10-11",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Madison",
"longitude": -89.40123,
"latitude": 43.07305,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"96v72\">Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein was visited at his Madison, Wisconsin, home by an FBI special agent on Oct. 11, 2024, in connection with his publication of a dossier about Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.</p><p data-block-key=\"4legl\">Klippenstein, who said the bureau visit could be interpreted as an effort to chill his reporting, published the <a href=\"https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/read-the-jd-vance-dossier\">dossier</a> Sept. 26, writing that the vetting document was reportedly hacked from the Trump campaign by the Iranian government and that other journalists had declined to publish it.</p><p data-block-key=\"5o74o\">Two weeks later, Klippenstein told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, an FBI agent from a satellite office in nearby Middleton came to his home to read him a one-paragraph statement notifying him that he “was a target of a foreign influence campaign.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b8r43\">“When he finished reading it, I looked at him and said, ‘Oh, yeah, I know. I put that in the story. I tried to inform readers that this is very likely an Iranian cyberactor trying to propagate these hacked documents. So, given that I wrote that in the article and I know all this, why did you come out here to notify me?’” Klippenstein recounted. “And he didn’t have an answer to that question, he just kind of shrugged.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bjuc2\">The agent wouldn’t allow him to take a picture of the statement or write notes, Klippenstein recounted, but said he’d try to have a copy emailed to the journalist. Klippenstein told the Tracker he never received such an email, and the FBI didn’t respond to his request for comment about the procedure behind such notifications.</p><p data-block-key=\"f608m\">“He said to me, ‘You’re not in trouble.’ And then I’m thinking, ‘OK. Well, why then? What is the point of this? I know I didn’t break any laws here,” he said. “The FBI has a notification system for foreign influence stuff, but I don’t think there’s any public evidence that that had happened to press before.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b3a8i\">In an article Klippenstein <a href=\"https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/the-fbi-knocked-on-my-door\">published on his Substack</a> page, he said the purpose of the visit was clear.</p><p data-block-key=\"3k41d\">“America’s most powerful law enforcement agency wants me to know it was displeased,” he wrote. “It is delivering what many would consider a chilling message: we know where you live, we know what you’ve done, we are watching,” he wrote.</p><p data-block-key=\"cs2so\">A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment when reached by the Tracker.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/2025-05-16T200559Z_1346280394_RC2.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"dzy74\">FBI vehicles parked in front of the bureau’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Journalist Ken Klippenstein was visited by FBI agents at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, in October 2024 and in May 2025.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"state": {
"name": "Wisconsin",
"abbreviation": "WI"
},
"updates": [
"(2025-05-22 04:00:00+00:00) Journalist gets a second FBI visit after publishing shooter’s manifesto"
],
"case_statuses": [],
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"target_nationality": [],
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"tags": [
"Department of Justice",
"election",
"Election 2024"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Ken Klippenstein (Independent)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
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},
{
"title": "Photojournalist struck, pushed with baton amid Israel-Gaza war protests",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalist-struck-pushed-with-baton-amid-israel-gaza-war-protests/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-17T17:16:10.155740Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-17T17:16:10.155740Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-17T16:15:08.515115Z",
"date": "2024-10-07",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ze9lc\">Documentary photographer Q. Sakamaki was shoved with a baton and kicked by a New York City police officer on Oct. 7, 2024, while documenting demonstrations marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war.</p><p data-block-key=\"pjk1\">Sakamaki told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he has covered protests in the city for decades and was <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DA303HnxHrV/?img_index=1\">photographing the protests</a> in Manhattan that day. He said he was in a densely packed crowd with numerous other members of the press, photographing the arrest of a pro-Palestinian protester, when his camera strap suddenly became entangled with an officer’s baton.</p><p data-block-key=\"1tmji\">“I tried to, you know, pull it out. At the same time, many people also moved,” Sakamaki said. “Then, the officer suddenly lost control of his temper. He got angry, just pushing me and actually kicked me a lot, but I couldn’t go back because there were so many people behind me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"d17u7\">In footage captured by <a href=\"https://x.com/lilyridephotos/status/1843683635880440026\">other</a> <a href=\"https://x.com/JP_OTG/status/1843414473178264033\">journalists</a> in the crowd, an officer can be seen first striking and then pushing Sakamaki back with his baton.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">An NYPD officer hits a credentialed press member taking photographs with a baton during a Pro-Palestine march on October 7, 2024. <a href=\"https://t.co/k3ylze0LyO\">pic.twitter.com/k3ylze0LyO</a></p>— Lily Ride Photos (@lilyridephotos) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/lilyridephotos/status/1843683635880440026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 8, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ze9lc\">Sakamaki said that after things had calmed down, he approached the officer and attempted to speak with him, but the officer shouted, “Back! Back! I warned you.”</p><p data-block-key=\"86vho\">The photographer told the Tracker that he was struck in the liver and has “felt sick” since the incident, but that it hasn’t discouraged his coverage. He added that police are responding harshly to large protests and without adequate training or planning.</p><p data-block-key=\"3c416\">“They don’t know how to control their temper, they don’t know how to de-escalate the situation,” Sakamaki said. “In the ‘80s and ‘90s it was bad, but now covering ordinary protests is getting harder, harder, harder.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6c9bq\">The New York City Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTS18KV5G.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"4eg2m\">Demonstrators gather in New York, New York, on Oct. 7, 2024, to mark the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Police struck photojournalist Q. Sakamaki with a baton while he was covering protests against the Israel-Gaza war that day.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
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"actor": null,
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"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": "law enforcement",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
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"tags": [
"Israel-Gaza war",
"protest"
],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Q. Sakamaki (Freelance)"
],
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"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "North Dakota TV reporter spat on, dodges punch ahead of live shot",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/north-dakota-tv-reporter-spat-on-dodges-punch-ahead-of-live-shot/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-09T19:10:34.500689Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-10-09T19:10:34.500689Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-09T18:33:37.968996Z",
"date": "2024-10-04",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Fargo",
"longitude": -96.7898,
"latitude": 46.87719,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"n38e7\">Tatum Miller, a multimedia reporter for KVLY-TV, was charged at and spat on by a woman as Miller was preparing for an interview in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, early on Oct. 4, 2024, the station <a href=\"https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/10/04/vnl-crew-threatened-downtown-fargo-friday-morning/\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"2cepj\">Miller told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that she and her photographer, Morgan Drake, were covering a downtown market that takes place nearly every week. While setting up shortly before 5:30 a.m. for a live interview with a pair of vendors, a woman began screaming at them.</p><p data-block-key=\"5orp4\">“She started out just yelling across the street,” Miller said. “And then I turn and look and instead of being across the street, down a block, she’s now running at me. She gets up about two inches from my face and tries to throw a punch; I lean back and she doesn’t make contact with me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"119rc\">Miller said the woman then threw a handful of leaves in her face, spat on her hair and coat and ran down the street.</p><p data-block-key=\"6ucai\">Police arrived at the scene within minutes, Miller said, and she asked that they stay nearby while she conducted the interview to ensure that nothing would happen while they were on-air. After the interview, police found the woman — who they said was under the influence of methamphetamines — and spoke with her.</p><p data-block-key=\"4o5n1\">The station reported that the woman was not detained, and officers instructed her to leave the news crew alone.</p><p data-block-key=\"cpir7\">Under <a href=\"https://casetext.com/statute/north-dakota-century-code/title-121-criminal-code/chapter-121-17-assaults-threats-coercion-harassment/section-121-17-11-contact-by-bodily-fluids-or-excrement\">North Dakota law</a>, spitting on someone can be prosecuted as an assault, but Miller told the Tracker she is still undecided on how to proceed.</p><p data-block-key=\"4u12j\">“My company does want to prosecute to the fullest extent,” Miller said. “They’re leaving it up to me personally, and I’m kind of going through more of her background first.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Miller_ND_assault.6c1acfd8.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"m44lc\">KVLY-TV reporter Tatum Miller is seen in body camera footage speaking with a police officer in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, on Oct. 4, after a woman assaulted her just prior to a live interview.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
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"stopped_previously": false,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
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"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
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"state": {
"name": "North Dakota",
"abbreviation": "ND"
},
"updates": [],
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"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
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"tags": [],
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"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Tatum Miller (KVLY-TV)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Florida broadcasters threatened with criminal charges by state agency",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/florida-broadcasters-threatened-with-criminal-charges-by-state-agency/",
"first_published_at": "2024-10-11T17:39:48.037361Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-07T21:19:41.380605Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-07T21:19:41.188264Z",
"date": "2024-10-03",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Multiple",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"thf6t\">At least two Florida broadcast stations were sent cease and desist letters on Oct. 3, 2024, by the state’s Department of Health after airing a campaign ad to overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.</p><p data-block-key=\"69ese\">The letters to WFLA-TV in Tampa and WCJB-TV in Gainesville threatened to bring criminal charges for “sanitary nuisance” against the outlets for airing an ad entitled “<a href=\"https://youtu.be/7jJiEE_AkPA\">Caroline</a>” that encouraged voters to support an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, <a href=\"https://floridapolitics.com/archives/700182-department-of-health-sends-cease-and-desist-letter-to-tv-station-over-abortion-ad/\">according to Florida Politics</a>. The South Florida Sun Sentinel <a href=\"https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/10/10/floridas-threat-of-criminal-charges-against-tv-stations-blasted-as-unconstitutional/\">reported</a> that stations in Sarasota and Panama City were also targeted. The ad was being run across the state, and is believed to have been on more than 50 stations.</p><p data-block-key=\"btgnl\"><a href=\"https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25194950/fl-doh-letter.pdf\">The letter</a> to WFLA-TV, which was first <a href=\"https://x.com/Jason_Garcia/status/1842646033890746744\">reported</a> by investigative journalist Jason Garcia, read: “While your company enjoys the right to broadcast political advertisements under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, section 4 of the Florida Constitution, that right does not include free rein to disseminate false advertisement which, if believed, would likely have a detrimental effect on the lives and health of pregnant women in Florida.”</p><p data-block-key=\"f3n9k\">According to the letter, maintaining a sanitary nuisance is a second-degree misdemeanor. As such, it would carry a maximum of <a href=\"http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.082.html\">60 days in prison</a>, up to a <a href=\"http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.083.html\">$500 fine</a> or both.</p><p data-block-key=\"dk4m\">Upon hearing of the letters, attorneys representing Floridians Protecting Freedom — which sponsored the abortion rights amendment — <a href=\"https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25194336/fpf_caroline_ceasedesist_responseletter_10_4_2024.pdf\">wrote</a> to WCJB-TV on Oct. 4 to insist that the ads continue running.</p><p data-block-key=\"902v3\">“This is not simply an instance where your station has received a baseless cease-and-desist letter in the context of a heated political campaign,” the letter read. “This is not just an unfounded request, it is unconstitutional state action. The Letter is a textbook example of government coercion that violates the First Amendment.”</p><p data-block-key=\"7l283\">Jessica Rosenworcel, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, <a href=\"https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-406321A1.pdf\">decried the letters</a> and said that the stations should not be intimidated for airing political ads.</p><p data-block-key=\"6bqnt\">“The right of broadcasters to speak freely is rooted in the First Amendment,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Threats against broadcast stations for airing content that conflicts with the government’s views are dangerous and undermine the fundamental principle of free speech.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4th2k\">Freedom of the Press Foundation, of which the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is a project, condemned the letters in a statement, calling them the latest effort from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to “censor free speech and punish dissent.”</p><p data-block-key=\"a9jop\">“A governor who is confident in his policies and secure in his leadership would welcome debate and correct statements he believes are misleading rather than trying to weaponize trash disposal laws against the free press,” wrote Director of Advocacy Seth Stern. “But DeSantis is not that governor. His administration’s conduct would be silly if it weren’t such a transparent bully tactic.”</p><p data-block-key=\"125ar\">The Florida Department of Health did not respond to a request for comment. <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/10/09/florida-abortion-tv-ad-caroline/\">According to The Washington Post</a>, both broadcast stations were continuing to air the ads as of Oct. 9.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"mvob4\">A portion of a cease and desist letter sent Oct. 3 to Florida broadcaster WFLA-TV by the state’s Department of Health threatening criminal charges if the station continued to air a political ad in support of reproductive rights.</p>",
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"(2024-11-06 00:00:00+00:00) Judge ends restraining order over Florida abortion ban ads",
"(2024-10-17 00:00:00+00:00) Judge says Florida can’t threaten TV stations for airing ad about abortion ban"
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{
"title": "City attorney tells journalist to unpublish articles about arrest report",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/city-attorney-tells-journalist-to-unpublish-articles-about-arrest-report/",
"first_published_at": "2024-11-20T19:34:54.903224Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-02-13T18:03:07.539933Z",
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"date": "2024-10-03",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"69qu2\">A San Francisco city attorney, in a letter on Oct. 3, 2024, directed independent journalist Jack Poulson to remove details of a tech CEO’s sealed arrest report from multiple articles and to “refrain” from publishing the materials further. The journalist was later sued for $25 million by the tech executive, <a href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/maury-blackman-lawsuit-19871638.php\">according to the San Francisco Chronicle</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"eql1o\">The Chronicle reported that the executive, Maury Blackman, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in 2021. He was not ultimately charged, and his arrest report was sealed from public view in 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"939l2\">Poulson — who runs the nonprofit <a href=\"https://techinquiry.org/?about=overview\">Tech Inquiry</a> and publishes a newsletter on Substack — wrote an <a href=\"https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/the-covert-gig-work-surveillance\">article</a> about the arrest on Sept. 14, 2023, and posted a copy of the arrest report itself. He later wrote about <a href=\"https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/fraudulent-dmca-takedown-submitted\">subsequent</a> <a href=\"https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/california-based-covert-surveillance\">attempts</a> to pressure him to take down the article and “forensically unmask” his sources.</p><p data-block-key=\"6m4g\">In September 2024, Poulson was sent a “demand for removal of sealed document and information related to sealed document” from David Marek, an attorney representing Blackman. The letter threatened legal action if the journalist didn’t delete the sealed report and the articles about it.</p><p data-block-key=\"3deds\">San Francisco Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Choi then sent letters first to Substack and later to Poulson informing them that <a href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=851.92.&lawCode=PEN\">under California law</a> it is illegal to share information relating to a sealed arrest, punishable by a fine of $500 to $2,500.</p><p data-block-key=\"besr2\">“We expect that you will immediately remove the Incident Report and its contents from Substack and ensure that the index to postings no longer allows for the Incident Report to be viewed or downloaded,” Choi wrote. “Finally, please refrain from publishing this material in the future.”</p><p data-block-key=\"81l89\">Choi did not respond to a request for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"6v4t0\">Freedom of the Press Foundation, of which the Tracker is a project, told the Chronicle that the Supreme Court has made it clear that the Constitution protects journalists from punishment for publishing legally obtained information.</p><p data-block-key=\"20dnp\">“Journalists are entitled to publish documents that they lawfully obtained, specifically government documents,” FPF Advocacy Director Seth Stern said. “Unless the city wants to take the position that a sealed arrest report is more sensitive than national security or (identifying) victims of terrible crimes, I don’t think they are in good standing.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3n4f3\">The city has not taken legal action against Poulson, the Chronicle reported. But Marek filed a lawsuit against the journalist, Tech Inquiry, Substack and Amazon Web Services, believed to be on Blackman’s behalf. The suit alleges Poulson’s articles damaged the unnamed plaintiff’s employment prospects and reputation among family, friends and business associates.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ru7p7\">A portion of an Oct. 3, 2024, letter from a San Francisco city attorney directing independent journalist Jack Poulson to remove details about a sealed arrest report from multiple articles and to “refrain” from publishing them further.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "California",
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"(2025-02-05 00:00:00+00:00) Tech CEO’s suit against journalist dismissed"
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