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Letter regarding police detention of journalists in Ferguson

 
In this letter sent to the Ferguson Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol General Headquarters, a large group of news/media organizations, including ASNE, express their concern for the unwarranted detention of two journalists on Aug. 13 and with other reports of police intimidation and harassment of journalists in Ferguson.

Below are the first two paragraphs of the letter. Click here to read the entire letter in its original format.

"As organizations that cover news and defend the rights of journalists to gather the news, we write to express our deep concern over the unwarranted detention of two journalists on Wednesday and with other reports of police intimidation and harassment of journalists in Ferguson. It is also extremely troubling that the police have not been more timely in releasing the records surrounding these incidents and the shooting of Michael Brown.

"While we understand the responsibilities of your three law enforcement agencies differ substantially in these events, we write to all of you in the hope of assuring that these issues going forward are handled in a manner that protects the First Amendment interests of the press and the public in accurate news reports out of Ferguson."

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