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“Even when reporters gain access without being stopped, they can be arrested for trespass and property owners may sue them after the fact, seeking damages for trespass or invasion of privacy,” the U.S.-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press notes in its field guide.
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Journalists in the United States and other nations may not enter private property without the consent of the owner or resident, even if they have been accompanying police authorities responding to a situation. Learn in advance the relevant laws and regulations. Journalists may enjoy some limited access to private property when covering publicly advertised political rallies or events. You do not have a right to trespass on private property in pursuit of a story. (See the section on Basic Preparedness in Chapter 5.) Avoid contact with material that is potential evidence do not remove any material from the crime scene. (See the section on Press Credentials in Chapter 1.) Avoid confrontations with authorities at such times, having relationships with senior law enforcement officials is useful. One question to ask is whether perpetrators may still be at large in the area.Ĭlearly display credentials at crime scenes, including local government-issued credentials whenever possible. Violent crime scenes may be more complicated to cover. Authorities claimed Bukowski crossed a police line Bukowski claimed she did not cross a line and was taking pictures at a distance of one of the deceased. reporter Diane Bukowski was found guilty of crimes including obstructing and endangering two Michigan state troopers while covering the aftermath of a fatal crash involving a motorcyclist who was pursued by a state police vehicle. Journalists covering emergency or rescue scenes should also prominently display their press credentials at all times.Ĭonfrontations sometimes arise between authorities and journalists covering a scene. Being respectful in both tone and demeanor is usually the best way to proceed. Toward that end, editors should discuss access issues with senior police and emergency officials on an ongoing basis and develop mutually agreed-upon guidelines for news coverage at emergency scenes.Ĭrossing police lines or disobeying police orders could lead to arrest. That said, authorities should be encouraged to provide journalists with a vantage that allows them a clear view of operations. Authorities usually establish a perimeter in order to keep onlookers, including journalists, at a distance you may request, but cannot usually demand, a closer vantage point than other onlookers. Photojournalists should apply similar judgment, understanding that they must be close enough to record the events. As in other situations, you should be close enough to observe the scene without endangering yourself or others, or interfering with security or rescue operations. The first responsibility of anyone among the early or “first responders”-including police, ambulance workers, and firefighters, as well as journalists-is to protect one’s self by surveying the scene and being aware of potential hazards, such as oncoming traffic, downed power lines, and the leaking of combustible fuel or hazardous chemicals or gases. Journalists need to be mindful of self-protection measures to avoid putting themselves at physical or legal risk. Civil scenarios from crime scenes to riots can generate unpredictable and dangerous conditions.