The Democratic National Convention is the current topic of most newsroom chatter. A recent event involving the arrest of ABC reporter/producer Asa Eslocker has certainly sparked a debate.
Yesterday, on a public sidewalk in Denver, Eslocker was trying to take pictures of Democratic senators and VIP donors when he was arrested and handcuffed by the Denver police. He works for the ABC News investigative unit and was covering the impact that wealthy donors and corporate lobbyists had on the party.
The charges against Eslocker were trespassing, failure to follow a lawful order, and interference. He posted bond earlier today.
So why is this an issue? Consider something with me for a moment. These rich, "important" donors and lobbyists were meeting with senators at the Brown Palace Hotel. Apparently, the police arrests came after complaints from the hotel.
Really, now. We know that an elite group of wealthy and politically-powerful people control much of American life, but how far will they take that power? Will they disregard the Constitution in order to save their own skins?
Eslocker and his ABC colleagues were working on a "Money Trail" report for Charles Gibson's news show. They were trying to expose just who these donors were, and what was going on behind the scenes financially. These men and women showed complete disregard for the press when they (obviously) made the hotel go to the police.
The reporters wanted to take pictures of these highly influential lobbyists and donors. On a public sidewalk. During an event that is crawling with media representatives.
So what are they hiding? For them to thwart investigate journalism, that was completely legal and on public property, these Democratic big-whigs must have had some major dirt to cover up, right?
The freedom of the press is a foundation principle in our country's Constitution. This seemed like a giant dose of political disrespect for the press. I will continue to follow this story as it develops more.
Be sure to follow the link to the video of this arrest.
Also, feel free to read others' opinions, and then leave a comment here with your own take on this event.
SEP. 3, 2008 -------
I just wanted to add an extra update on this issue for those who were concerned over the arrests of these journalists. There was another controversial arrest, this time of three reporters for the DemocracyNow! show, in Minneapolis during the Republican National Convention. They were covering riots taking place outside, and two were arrested even when they yelled "I'm press!" Then Goodman, one of their colleagues and the third reporter arrested, was taken into custody when she questioned the police officers. It seems to me like our police forces have never read the Constitution and have no idea what they are doing! They should all be required to learn about the freedoms this country provides to the press before they are allowed to man the streets. They should be well-trained enough to know the difference between those who are rioting and those who are there reporting on the event.
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6 comments:
Hm... I sense something suspicious occuring between the senators and VIP donors. It all fits under one word: politics.
Excellent analysis of this article. I was very impressed with your ability to integrate freedom of the press in this situation.
Journalists have crossed their boundaries in certain situations, and have deserved their just punishment; however, I am not so sure, after reading your analysis and considering our first amendments rights, that Asa Eslocker deserved arrest.
Citizens have a right to know - especially in respect to political circumstances. We are a democratic republic. We institute those in office, and they deserve to be accountable. Journalism is one system of checks and balances for politicians.
Eslocker arrest seems unjust. As stated under Amendment one in our country’s Constitution, “Congress shall make no law…or prohibit[ing] the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom…of the press”. There has to be a better excuse for her arrest besides trespassing, failure to follow a lawful order, and interferences.
Great lead to your blog, it really captured my attention.
It seems to me that the cops didn't care about the law and just wanted to arrest someone. He was clearly in the right to be standing there and even said that while the cop was pushing him into the street.
I do not think that it is right to keep people from knowing what's going on in the world and am very glad you chose this for the blog post. You did a very good job on your post and I really liked the extra link to the video and the other comments on it.
Excellent post! I had heard of the incident with the DemocracyNow! reporters, but the rest is news to me.
Journalists in the past have not been without the threat of danger. Just look at the dangerous conditions in which media journalists face every day in the Middle East as they cover the war.
However, tt is a sad thing indeed that journalists are being put in danger on their home soil. This is the United States, and there is such a thing as freedom of the press.
This is a dangerous trend that is beginning to show, and hopefully it can be corrected before things go too far. It really is everyone's right to get every side of the story, regardless of how certain parties may feel. If this continues, then we are well on our way toward serious political censorship.
I loved both these stories, I didn't even realize that this was going on. Thank you for the posts.
With that said I definitely agree that I don't think that most police officers understand the concept of what journalism is there for and why most of us report what we report. Maybe their should a more in depth coverage of what our police officers around know about the press's involvement in news via the Constitution. So thank you once again for covering this for us.
Regarding your update: everyone should carry around a pocket Constitution! It would make the world a better place :)
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