Incident Database

Legal Orders →: subpoena for other testimony

Aug. 3, 2022: Pending

Sep. 6, 2022: Objected to

Sep. 7, 2022: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Individual aims weapon at FOX reporter, photographer during morning broadcast

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 25, 2022
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Joanie Lum (WFLD FOX 32)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Individual aims firearm at FOX news crew during morning broadcast

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 25, 2022
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Unidentified photojournalist 23 (WFLD FOX 32)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Federal judge upholds subpoena demanding unreleased materials from Chicago’s CBS2 News

Incident Details

Date of Incident: October 26, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: WBBM-TV CBS2

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Oct. 26, 2021: Pending

Apr. 29, 2022: Upheld
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Production company subpoenaed for documentary footage in criminal case

Incident Details

Date of Incident: October 18, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Painless Television, Inc.

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Oct. 18, 2021: Pending

Oct. 19, 2021: Objected to

Jun. 27, 2022: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: State

Reporter, public removed from Illinois city council meeting

Incident Details

Date of Incident: September 13, 2021
Location: Country Club Hills, Illinois
Targets: Erica Chiang (The Southland Journal)

Government agency or public official involved →: Mayor James Ford

Discovery Channel subpoenaed for documentary footage in criminal case

Incident Details

Date of Incident: July 26, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Discovery Inc.

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Jul. 26, 2021: Pending

Jul. 27, 2021: Objected to

Jun. 27, 2022: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: State

Subpoena seeking unreleased footage issued to Chicago CBS2 News reporter

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 8, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Dave Savini (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Jun. 8, 2021: Pending

Jul. 12, 2021: Objected to

Apr. 29, 2022: Upheld
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Subpoena seeking unreleased footage issued to former editor at CBS2 News

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 8, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Derek Dalton (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Jun. 8, 2021: Pending

Apr. 29, 2022: Unknown
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Washington Post journalist subpoenaed for documents from college reporting

Incident Details

Date of Incident: April 22, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Fenit Nirappil

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Apr. 22, 2021: Pending

May. 10, 2021: Objected to
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Block Club Chicago journalist assaulted, his camera damaged at protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: April 16, 2021
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Colin Boyle (Block Club Chicago)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Equipment Broken →: Camera lens, 1

Camera equipment, 2

Photographer says was assaulted twice by Chicago police during protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: August 15, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Dominic Gwinn (Freelance)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Independent journalist’s equipment searched while reporting on Chicago protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: August 15, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Raven Geary (Independent)

Equipment Seized →: Equipment bag, 1
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Washington Post journalist chased by looters in Chicago

Incident Details

Date of Incident: August 10, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Mark Guarino (The Washington Post)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Chicago journalist assaulted by police during Columbus statue protests; files suit against officer

Incident Details

Date of Incident: July 17, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Case number: 1:20-cv-05234
Targets: Colin Boyle (Block Club Chicago)
Case Status: Settled
Type of case: Civil

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

CBS Chicago reporter assaulted by individual while filming Columbus statue protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: July 17, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Marissa Parra (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

CBS Chicago journalist reports assault by police during Columbus statue protests

Incident Details

Date of Incident: July 17, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Marissa Parra (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Photojournalist assaulted while covering aftermath of protests in Chicago

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 1, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Ken Bedford (ABC 7 Chicago)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Chicago journalist pepper-sprayed in the face while holding up press credentials and screaming 'Press!'

Incident Details

Updated On: October 23, 2020
Date of Incident: May 30, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Case number: 1:20-cv-03422
Targets: Jonathan Ballew (Freelance)
Case Status: Settled
Type of case: Civil

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Camera equipment stolen from Chicago Tribune photographer during protests

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 30, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Erin Hooley (Chicago Tribune)

Equipment Broken →: Camera, 2

Camera lens, 2

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

WGN news van vandalized in Chicago during protests

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 30, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: WGN 9 News

Equipment Broken →: Vehicle, 1

Man arrested following assault of reporter during live broadcast

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 23, 2020
Location: Shorewood, Illinois
Targets: Gaynor Hall (WGN 9 News)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Photojournalist assaulted and camera destroyed by passerby

Incident Details

Updated On: August 25, 2020
Date of Incident: May 1, 2020
Location: Rock Island, Illinois
Targets: Unidentified photojournalist 2 (WQAD-TV)

Equipment Broken →: Camera, 1

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Illinois mayor threatens journalist for taking pictures, video on public street

Incident Details

Date of Incident: March 26, 2020
Location: Bellmont, Illinois
Targets: John Kraft (Edgar County Watchdogs)

Chilling Statement

Illinois county drops subpoena for government watchdog’s communications

Incident Details

Date of Incident: March 25, 2020
Location: Effingham County, Illinois
Targets: Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Mar. 25, 2020: Pending

Apr. 7, 2020: Dropped
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: State

Chicago CBS affiliate ordered to turn over unedited interview footage

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 12, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Derek Dalton (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Feb. 12, 2020: Pending

Feb. 26, 2020: Objected to

Aug. 3, 2020: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Chicago CBS2 reporter subpoenaed for aired and unpublished footage

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 12, 2020
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Dave Savini (WBBM-TV CBS2)

Legal Orders →: national security letter for communications or work product

Feb. 12, 2021: Pending

Feb. 26, 2021: Objected to

Aug. 3, 2022: Partially upheld
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Subpoena issued for watchdog blog’s documents, communications

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 7, 2020
Location: Stark County, Illinois
Targets: Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Feb. 7, 2020: Pending
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Subpoenas seeking Illinois-based government watchdog’s communications and documents dropped

Incident Details

Date of Incident: August 27, 2019
Location: Effingham County, Illinois
Targets: Kirk Allen (Edgar County Watchdogs), Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Aug. 27, 2019: Pending

Sep. 11, 2019: Dropped
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Newsday reporter threatened and ordered out of the locker room following Mets loss in Chicago

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 23, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Tim Healey (Newsday)

Other Incident

New Yorker staff writer subpoenaed for testimony in civil rights lawsuit

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 18, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Nicholas Schmidle (The New Yorker)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for other testimony

Jun. 18, 2019: Pending

Jul. 23, 2019: Objected to

Oct. 18, 2019: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Student journalist subpoenaed for documents and reporting materials as part of dispute between university, foundation

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 22, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Euirim Choi (The Chicago Maroon)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

May. 22, 2019: Pending
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Student newspaper subpoenaed for documents and reporting materials as part of $100 million dispute

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 17, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: The Chicago Maroon

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

May. 19, 2019: Pending
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Judge orders ProPublica Illinois, other media, not to publish details of juvenile court case

Incident Details

Updated On: April 15, 2019
Date of Incident: March 14, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: ProPublica Illinois

Status of Prior Restraint →: Dropped

New Yorker staff writer subpoenaed for 'all documents' around 2014 article

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 22, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Nicholas Schmidle (The New Yorker)

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Feb. 22, 2019: Pending

Nov. 8, 2019: Dropped
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

Second subpoena issued for content of Illinois watchdog’s Dropbox account

Incident Details

Updated On: July 10, 2019
Date of Incident: February 22, 2019
Location: Algonquin Township, Illinois
Targets: Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Feb. 22, 2019: Pending

Sep. 23, 2019: Objected to

Jul. 10, 2019: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Third-party: Dropbox (tech company)
Legal Order Venue →: State

Subpoena issued for Illinois-based government watchdog’s communications

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 19, 2019
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Targets: Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Feb. 19, 2019: Pending
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: State

Illinois County judge orders watchdog publication not to publish school records released by lawyer

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 4, 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Better Government Association

Status of Prior Restraint →: Dropped

Federal judge orders Chicago Sun-Times not to publish information

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 2019
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Chicago Sun-Times

Status of Prior Restraint →: Ignored

Subpoena issued for contents of Illinois government watchdog’s Dropbox account

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 23, 2019
Location: Algonquin Township, Illinois
Targets: Edgar County Watchdogs

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Jan. 23, 2019: Pending

Feb. 8, 2019: Objected to

Feb. 11, 2019: Quashed
Legal Order Target →: Institution
Legal Order Venue →: State

Journalist Jamie Kalven subpoenaed to testify in police officer trial

Incident Details

Updated On: November 28, 2018
Date of Incident: November 16, 2018
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Jamie Kalven

Legal Orders →: subpoena for other testimony

Nov. 16, 2018: Pending

Nov. 27, 2018: Objected to

Nov. 28, 2018: Dropped
Legal Order Target →: Journalist
Legal Order Venue →: State

Reporter Zachary Siegel held in contempt of court and arrested after recording trial

Incident Details

Updated On: December 14, 2018
Date of Incident: October 2, 2018
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Zachary Siegel (Undark)

Arrest Status →: Arrested and released
Charges →: Criminal contempt of court

Oct. 2, 2018: Convicted

Oct. 30, 2018: Pending appeal

Dec. 14, 2018: Convicted
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Illinois State Police trooper arrests journalist for 'trespassing' at scene of car crash

Incident Details

Updated On: July 25, 2019
Date of Incident: August 11, 2018
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Targets: Dave Weaver (Freelance)

Arrest Status →: Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →: Illinois State Police
Charges →: Blocking traffic: failure to yield to emergency vehicles

Aug. 11, 2018: Charges pending

Sep. 13, 2018: Charges pending

Jul. 25, 2019: Charges dropped

Blocking traffic: stopping in a roadway

Aug. 11, 2018: Charges pending

Sep. 13, 2018: Charges pending

Jul. 25, 2019: Charges dropped

Blocking traffic: walking improperly on a roadway

Aug. 11, 2018: Charges pending

Sep. 13, 2018: Charges pending

Jul. 25, 2019: Charges dropped

Trespassing: criminal trespass to property

Aug. 11, 2018: Charges pending

Sep. 13, 2018: Charges pending

Jul. 25, 2019: Charges dropped
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Chicago Sun-Times reporter assaulted by police while covering protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: July 14, 2018
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Nader Issa (Chicago Sun-Times)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes