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The ‘why is this happening’ is just as important as the ‘what is happening.’ Demonstrators chant “hands up don’t shoot” as they walk past Metropolitan Police officers during a protest Sunday, June 7, 2020, near the White House in Washington, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
On June 4, the Institute for Nonprofit News invited members to a webinar on how to navigate some of the ethical and legal challenges journalists are faced with in covering the current protests over police brutality after the death of George Floyd. Sarah Matthews, a senior staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Tracie Powell, program officer, Racial Equity in Journalism Fund at Borealis Philanthropy, covered practical tips and guidance for reporters who are covering protests including a discussion of curfew rules/media exemptions as well as advice on how journalists can approach this protest story. You can a PDF of the tips here.
This story has been republished with permission.
Do: Be Respectful Listen to Black people. Listen to the communities. Afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. Be respectful, both to police and protesters. If a protester asks that you not photograph them, honor that. Know your role, including the role you play in being viewed as “authority figures” who are part of the power structure in which anger is directed. Consider news value when airing
Read more here: https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/dos-and-donts-of-covering-protests/