Charges against journalists covering events in Ferguson, USA, should be dropped, OSCE media freedom representative says

VIENNA, 11 August 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today criticized the decision to pursue criminal charges against two journalists for their actions while covering the August 2014 protests in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, in the United States.

Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery and Ryan J. Reilly of the Huffington Post have been charged by the St. Louis County prosecutor with trespassing and interfering with an officer. Lowery is required to appear in a St. Louis municipal court on 24 August to answer charges.

The journalists were reporting last year from inside a restaurant near the protests when they were detained.

“It is simply wrong to go forward with charges that could result in fines and prison sentences for covering a civil disturbance,” Mijatović said. “As I said then, I fully recognize the sensitive situation where law enforcement officials are maintaining public order. However the right of media to cover public protests must be taken into account.”

Mijatović said the charges against the reporters should be dropped.

The Representative’s previous statement on the arrests of journalists in Ferguson is available at www.osce.org/fom/122773.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.