OSCE Representative says media has a right to cover civil disturbances without intimidation

VIENNA, 14 August 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today that the arrest of two reporters covering civil disturbances in Ferguson, a suburb of  St. Louis, Missouri, was unacceptable and a clear violation of the right of media to cover news.

Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery and Huffington Post reporter Ryan J. Reilly were taken into custody by local police on 13 August while filing reports on demonstrations triggered by the fatal shooting of a local resident. They were released without charges filed.

“Summarily rounding up journalists while they are doing their jobs sends a dangerous precedent and must never be condoned,” Mijatović said. “Journalists have the right to report on public demonstrations without being intimated by the police.”

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 atwww.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.