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The @TB_Times removed our reporter from tonight's St. Petersburg protest. It was a small march, but 6-8 young men became hostile towards our reporter.
This is the second Saturday that a small group of young male protesters in St. Pete menaced one of our reporters. 1/11
This is the second Saturday that a small group of young male protesters in St. Pete menaced one of our reporters. 1/11
Tonight's issue was the "Journalism Matters" T-shirt the @TB_Times reporter wore. Demonstrators found it disrespectful.
Our journalists have worn Times gear and badges throughout the protests so everyone knows who we are. It's called transparency. 2/11
Our journalists have worn Times gear and badges throughout the protests so everyone knows who we are. It's called transparency. 2/11
The @TB_Times has spent 7 weeks covering the St. Pete and Tampa protest movements. Recently, both grew hostile toward us.
Some protesters have criticized our coverage (just like officials have.) That is their right.
But this is interfering with our ability to bear witness. 3/11
Some protesters have criticized our coverage (just like officials have.) That is their right.
But this is interfering with our ability to bear witness. 3/11
. @TB_Times journalists spent weeks volunteering to work late nights and weekends — in the middle of a pandemic — to cover the protests and their message.
Two of our journalists were detained by police.
And protest duty came on top of our regular assignments and duties. 4/11
Two of our journalists were detained by police.
And protest duty came on top of our regular assignments and duties. 4/11
Most demonstrators have no experience with the media and what we do. They've asked us not to photograph them while they protest in public spaces — then they post to social media.
It's hard for anyone to face public scrutiny. I get that.
We try to get along and do our jobs. 5/11
It's hard for anyone to face public scrutiny. I get that.
We try to get along and do our jobs. 5/11
There have been tense moments in Tampa Bay — arrests, property destruction, standoffs and demonstrators injured by drivers — but most protests have been peaceful.
Tampa and St. Pete haven't seen what's happened in Portland, Washington D.C., New York City, etc. 6/11
Tampa and St. Pete haven't seen what's happened in Portland, Washington D.C., New York City, etc. 6/11
Tonight is especially disappointing because we were hoping to talk to marchers about John Lewis. Some carried signs remembering the civil rights legend.
We didn't get far before things got ugly. One protester said he never heard of Lewis.
Not sure what to say about that. 7/11
We didn't get far before things got ugly. One protester said he never heard of Lewis.
Not sure what to say about that. 7/11
I realize that when you protest against racism, authority, systemic issues and the status quo, that includes the "media."
The media has its own issues that must be addressed, but we are not a monolith.
Local journalists want to cover their communities. That's our mission. 8/11
The media has its own issues that must be addressed, but we are not a monolith.
Local journalists want to cover their communities. That's our mission. 8/11
We've covered fewer marches lately. We have limited resources and other priorities, like COVID-19.
But now our ability to bear witness is being disrupted through intimidation.
We'll keep covering the movement, but I want to let @TB_Times readers know what's going on. 9/11
But now our ability to bear witness is being disrupted through intimidation.
We'll keep covering the movement, but I want to let @TB_Times readers know what's going on. 9/11
I want to express my appreciation to the @TB_Times journalists who worked so hard these past weeks.
And I thank the demonstrators, citizens and officials who do speak to us and help us do our jobs.
Journalism doesn't work if people don't talk and share their stories. 10/11
And I thank the demonstrators, citizens and officials who do speak to us and help us do our jobs.
Journalism doesn't work if people don't talk and share their stories. 10/11
Like the T-shirt says: Journalism Matters. (We had to buy our own shirts, do we definitely feel that way.)
But journalism only works if people help us do our jobs, instead of preventing us from doing them.
We already see too much of that these days. 11/11
But journalism only works if people help us do our jobs, instead of preventing us from doing them.
We already see too much of that these days. 11/11
