Media Guild of the West endorses protections for journalists covering protests

At the April 19, 2021, quarterly membership meeting of Media Guild of the West, NewsGuild-CWA Local 39213, members voted 94% to 6% to endorse the following resolution:

Whereas, a fundamental role of journalism in society is to bear witness;

Whereas, journalists provide information essential to life in a democracy, documenting those exercising their First Amendment rights and serving as a watchdog for law enforcement, government agencies, and elected officials;

Whereas, journalists are routinely tasked with covering rallies, demonstrations, protests and marches;

Whereas, journalists at the scene of recent marches, rallies and demonstrations have faced harassment, intimidation, detention and arrest by law enforcement;

Whereas, journalists in California need additional protections to perform their constitutionally protected newsgathering activities;

Therefore, be it resolved:

The members of the Media Guild of the West, TNG-CWA Local 39213, endorse efforts by their local union to support the passage of SB 98 (McGuire), which as proposed, will permit authorized members of the media to cross into areas otherwise closed by law enforcement or first responders during a rally, protest, march or demonstration; provide an expedited pathway for a journalist to challenge authorities if detained by police; and bar officers from assaulting or otherwise obstructing a journalist’s ability to report.