FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: NYPD COMMISSIONER

Submitted by ub on

A group made up of news media organizations based in NY including WABC TV 7 Eyewitness News, Channel 4 News/WNBC and WCBS-TV 2 have sent a letter to the New York Police Department protesting media access issues and the way in which police deal with reporters.

Late last year The Deadline Club, NYC Press organization crafted a letter to city officials protesting treatment of journalists during OWS coverage. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly reportedly told officers that they could be disciplined for disrupting media access. But journalists in New York City say that there continues to be interference while carrying out their work.

Besides the three network owned and operated stations stations listed above other news organizations also signed the letter, including New York Times, New York Daily News, Thompson Reuters , Associated Press and Bloomberg News.

One veteran journalist was quoted as saying " if we don't keep an eye on police actions and practices, then who will? "