Journalism and COVID-19: Free Press Threatened
This page is part of Journalism and COVID-19: The Toll of a Pandemic, PEN America’s project covering the toll of the coronavirus crisis on the journalism industry in the United States. For “Free Press Threatened,” we looked at the various challenges and threats that journalists faced during the pandemic: attacks/harassment, censorship, denigration, restrictions on information, and risks to safety.
Last updated: March 30, 2021
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Attacks & Harrassment
Armed Protesters Break Into Oregon State Capitol Building, Break Windows, Assault Journalists, Hit Police With Chemical Agent
According to the Oregon State Police and multiple media reports, a group of armed…
In times of conflict, journalists face threats, even in our own community
Photographer Patrick Breen didn’t expect what he heard on Nov. 22 at a youth…
NY Post Photographer Alleges Newspaper Fired Him In Retaliation For Requesting PPE During Pandemic
A former New York Post photographer claims he was fired in retaliation for requesting…
Journalist ‘Brutally Assaulted’ in Borough Park During Second Night of COVID-19 Rage
For the second night in a row, protests over new coronavirus restrictions in New…
KSTP News 5 crew’s cable cut during live shot, interrupting broadcast
The cable connecting a KSTP 5 News crew’s camera to its live truck was…
Liberty University sues New York Times for defamation over coronavirus coverage
Liberty University sued The New York Times for defamation on Wednesday, accusing the paper,…
Anti-Lockdown Protesters Get in Reporters’ (Masked) Faces
For some reporters, the up-close wrath of anti-lockdown protesters has become a hazard of…
Journalists face harassment while covering coronavirus
For journalists serving their communities during the pandemic, field reporting raises new health concerns…
Video captures protester accosting Ohio reporter covering coronavirus demonstration
A protester outside the Ohio Statehouse on Friday, upset with what she thought was…
Photojournalist assaulted and camera destroyed by passerby
A WQAD News 8 photojournalist was assaulted and his camera destroyed while on assignment…
Vice President’s office reportedly threatens censure over tweet
Vice President Mike Pence’s office reportedly threatened to take punitive actions against a Voice…
Fox 11 News photojournalist held at knifepoint over footage of California shelter-in-place protest
A man was arrested in Huntington Beach, California, and charged with kidnapping a Fox…
Trump campaign sues TV station over Democratic super PAC ad
President Trump’s reelection campaign on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against a Wisconsin television…
Liberty University obtains trespassing warrants against two journalists
Arrest warrants were issued for two journalists after they visited Liberty University to cover…
TV reporter menaced by angry lockdown protesters on Long Island
An angry group of lockdown protesters verbally abused and “practically chased” a Long Island…
Censorship
Trump Vaccine Adviser Warns That Scrutiny Of Him Will Delay Arrival Of Coronavirus Vaccine
HHS assistant secretary Michael Caputo went even further, arguing the media doesn't want a…
GOP convention in Charlotte closed to press, portions will be livestreamed
The dramatically scaled-down Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be closed to…
White House blocks CDC from testifying on reopening schools next week
The White House is blocking U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr.…
Liberty University sues New York Times for defamation over coronavirus coverage
Liberty University sued The New York Times for defamation on Wednesday, accusing the paper,…
Voice Of America Denounces CDC For Blacklisting Reporters After White House Smear
The White House claimed the government-funded news agency was spreading Chinese propaganda.
Florida scientist says she was fired for refusing to change COVID-19 data ‘to support reopen plan’
The scientist in charge of Florida’s Covid-19 database was fired on the same day…
Top health officials vanish from national TV interviews as White House refocuses messaging
The nation's top physicians have stopped appearing on national television for interviews as the…
Vice President’s office reportedly threatens censure over tweet
Vice President Mike Pence’s office reportedly threatened to take punitive actions against a Voice…
Florida medical examiners were releasing coronavirus death data. The state made them stop.
State officials have stopped releasing the list of coronavirus deaths being compiled by Florida’s…
Police seize drone as photojournalist documents mass graves in New York
New York City police confiscated the drone of independent aerial photojournalist George Steinmetz as…
Trump campaign sues TV station over Democratic super PAC ad
President Trump’s reelection campaign on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against a Wisconsin television…
White House reverses position after blocking health officials from appearing on CNN
Vice President Mike Pence's office reversed course on Thursday afternoon, after declining for days…
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson criticized for COVID-19 briefings that lack transparency
None of the reporters who cover the governor was able to follow up, as…
Trump blocks Fauci from answering question about drug Trump is touting
President Trump spent a portion of Sunday’s press briefing yet again promoting an unproven…
Critics blast Puerto Rico ‘dictatorial decree’ as coronavirus claims youngest victim
[The law] makes it illegal for media outlets or social media accounts “to transmit…
Hospitals Tell Doctors They’ll Be Fired If They Speak Out About Lack of Gear
Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicize their working conditions during the…
Florida journalist barred from governor’s COVID-19 briefing
A reporter was barred from attending a press conference held by Florida Gov. Ron…
Trump Campaign’s Threat on TV Licenses May Be Mostly Bluster
The Trump reelection campaign told TV stations they could lose their operating licenses for…
Virtual meeting may have violated Open Meetings Act
The city's first attempt Monday at holding a virtual public meeting of the city…
White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations
The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as…
Newark warns of criminal prosecution for ‘false reporting of coronavirus’
The Department of Public Safety of Newark, N.J., is warning residents they could be…
Denigration
Pressed about vaccine delays, Florida Gov. DeSantis criticizes CNN reporter‘s questioning
A back-and-forth between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and CNN reporter Rosa Flores over the…
Trump spars with CBS reporter, calls her ‘disgraceful’ for questioning early coronavirus response
President Donald Trump called CBS White House correspondent Paula Reid "fake" and "disgraceful" after…
Trump, in crisis mode, tweets his 2000th attack on the press
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend daily life, President Donald Trump accelerated smearing…
White House accuses Voice of America of spreading propaganda
A White House newsletter accused a U.S.-funded and independent international news outlet of uncritically…
Cruz: Media ‘rooting’ for coronavirus to get worse
Sen. Ted Cruz accused journalists working in national media of "rooting" for the coronavirus…
“You’re a third-rate reporter”: Trump lashes out in response to questions about damning IG report
President Donald Trump was asked repeatedly during Monday’s White House coronavirus task force briefing…
‘That’s a nasty, snarky question’: Trump’s media assault rages on in midst of coronavirus crisis
Donald Trump’s intemperate outbursts may be a sign of a leader cracking under the…
Trump accuses media of wanting to keep economy shut to hurt his reelection
Donald Trump has accused the media of wanting to keep the U.S. economy shuttered…
Trump throws tantrum over coronavirus question: ‘You’re a terrible reporter’
Donald Trump has thrown an extraordinary temper tantrum on live television, lambasting a reporter…
Trump accuses press of ‘siding with China’ amid pandemic
President Trump on Thursday accused media outlets of "siding with China" and decried their…
Trump abruptly ends press conference after contentious exchange with reporters
President Donald Trump abruptly ended his Monday press conference after a contentious exchange in…
Restrictions on Information
Reporters Scream Queries At Mike Pence After He Leaves Coronavirus Press Briefing Without Taking Questions
Vice President Mike Pence declined to take questions after an hour-plus coronavirus task force…
White House Sought to Silence News of Vice President COVID-19 Outbreak: Report
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly sought to contain news of COVID-19…
BuzzFeed News Pulls Reporter From White House, Citing Virus Risk
BuzzFeed News has pulled a political correspondent from the White House press pool, citing…
Georgia withholds school COVID-19 counts from public
Georgia health officials have decided to withhold information about coronavirus infections at each school,…
Coronavirus cases spike among school-age children in Florida, while state orders some counties to keep data hidden
Volunteers across Florida have set up their own school-related coronavirus dashboards, and one school…
Gag Order or Privacy Concern?
Numerous institutions are telling professors not to talk about when students in their face-to-face…
Georgia keeps key virus information from public
Documents that could show how Georgia has managed key aspects of the coronavirus pandemic…
GOP convention in Charlotte closed to press, portions will be livestreamed
The dramatically scaled-down Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be closed to…
White House blocks CDC from testifying on reopening schools next week
The White House is blocking U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr.…
White House hasn’t approved requests for TV interviews with Fauci, official says
Dr. Anthony Fauci, arguably the most trusted man in America, is practically invisible right…
Voice Of America Denounces CDC For Blacklisting Reporters After White House Smear
The White House claimed the government-funded news agency was spreading Chinese propaganda.
Florida scientist says she was fired for refusing to change COVID-19 data ‘to support reopen plan’
The scientist in charge of Florida’s Covid-19 database was fired on the same day…
Top health officials vanish from national TV interviews as White House refocuses messaging
The nation's top physicians have stopped appearing on national television for interviews as the…
Florida medical examiners were releasing coronavirus death data. The state made them stop.
State officials have stopped releasing the list of coronavirus deaths being compiled by Florida’s…
White House reverses position after blocking health officials from appearing on CNN
Vice President Mike Pence's office reversed course on Thursday afternoon, after declining for days…
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson criticized for COVID-19 briefings that lack transparency
None of the reporters who cover the governor was able to follow up, as…
Critics blast Puerto Rico ‘dictatorial decree’ as coronavirus claims youngest victim
[The law] makes it illegal for media outlets or social media accounts “to transmit…
Hospitals Tell Doctors They’ll Be Fired If They Speak Out About Lack of Gear
Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicize their working conditions during the…
Closed To The Public? Local Governments Respond Slowly—or Not at All—To Requests For COVID-19 Information and Records
Amid an unparalleled health crisis, when the public needs and craves information, NBC 7…
Florida journalist barred from governor’s COVID-19 briefing
A reporter was barred from attending a press conference held by Florida Gov. Ron…
Virtual meeting may have violated Open Meetings Act
The city's first attempt Monday at holding a virtual public meeting of the city…
The FBI Has Limited Public Records Requests During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Citing the global outbreak of the coronavirus, the FBI has placed a significant limit…
White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations
The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as…
Risks to Safety
Voice of America employees protest order to broadcast Pompeo speech, calling it ‘propaganda’
Staffers at Voice of America, the government-funded international news organization, have filed a whistleblower…
NY Post Photographer Alleges Newspaper Fired Him In Retaliation For Requesting PPE During Pandemic
A former New York Post photographer claims he was fired in retaliation for requesting…
As Trump Flouts Safety Protocols, News Outlets Balk at Close Coverage
Major news organizations have become increasingly wary of sending journalists to travel with President…
BuzzFeed News Pulls Reporter From White House, Citing Virus Risk
BuzzFeed News has pulled a political correspondent from the White House press pool, citing…