This September marks 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), all independent professional organizations, are issuing guidance to help journalists and newsrooms more accurately and critically cover the commemoration, impacted communities, and policies that resulted from 9/11.
SAJA-AAJA Media Advisory on Coverage of Indianapolis Fedex Facility Shooting
We are concerned about reports Tuesday that the Minnesota state police threatened to arrest journalists covering the protests if they did not leave. This growing nationwide trend among law enforcement agencies is unacceptable. The police should not be threatening journalists for doing their jobs. As journalism organizations, we stand together to defend reporters on the streets who are covering the news as the eyes and ears of the people.
We encourage and urge all police offices to respect our jobs and not threaten working journalists or peaceful protesters, both of whom are protected by the First Amendment, with arrest.