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TNG-CWA Members Rally for Press Freedom
Journalists and supporters of a free press demonstrated in Washington, D.C., and communities across the country on July 6, protesting the planned jailing of two reporters and calling for a national shield law to safeguard both journalists and the public's right to know.
The vigils and events were organized by TNG-CWA with support from other media reform organizations.
Vigils and rallies were held in New York City and Rochester, N.Y.; Minneapolis; Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Boston; Cleveland, Los Angeles and other locations. In addition, reporters in newsrooms across the country - from Baltimore to Hawaii - marked two minutes of silence at noon, reported TNG-CWA President Linda Foley.
The Washington rally was held near the federal courthouse where New York Times reporter Judith Miller later was sentenced to jail for refusing to reveal her sources concerning the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity. Reporter Matt Cooper of Time Magazine agreed to testify after his source released him from a pledge of confidentiality. Both are covered by TNG-CWA contracts.
At the rally, Foley said journalists nationwide were taking a stand for freedom of the press that is critical to our democracy. She noted that many states provide some protections for journalists, but that a national shield law was needed to ensure that the public would continue to have the knowledge it needs about its government.
Ben Scott of Free Press, a national media reform group, outlined the campaign to petition Congress to enact such a law. Also addressing the Washington rally were Tony Winton, an Associated Press broadcast reporter and president of TNG-CWA 31222; George Wright, Washington-Baltimore local broadcast director for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists; and media attorney Kurt Wimmer.
The vigils and events were organized by TNG-CWA with support from other media reform organizations.
Vigils and rallies were held in New York City and Rochester, N.Y.; Minneapolis; Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Boston; Cleveland, Los Angeles and other locations. In addition, reporters in newsrooms across the country - from Baltimore to Hawaii - marked two minutes of silence at noon, reported TNG-CWA President Linda Foley.
The Washington rally was held near the federal courthouse where New York Times reporter Judith Miller later was sentenced to jail for refusing to reveal her sources concerning the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity. Reporter Matt Cooper of Time Magazine agreed to testify after his source released him from a pledge of confidentiality. Both are covered by TNG-CWA contracts.
At the rally, Foley said journalists nationwide were taking a stand for freedom of the press that is critical to our democracy. She noted that many states provide some protections for journalists, but that a national shield law was needed to ensure that the public would continue to have the knowledge it needs about its government.
Ben Scott of Free Press, a national media reform group, outlined the campaign to petition Congress to enact such a law. Also addressing the Washington rally were Tony Winton, an Associated Press broadcast reporter and president of TNG-CWA 31222; George Wright, Washington-Baltimore local broadcast director for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists; and media attorney Kurt Wimmer.