Censorship Warning: LAPD Handpicks Media to Cover Occupy LA

Photo by Michael Yanow via the LAist Featured Photos pool

The LAPD announced a media pool for Occupy L.A. coverage on Monday as Solidarity Park slowly dismantles and awaits a possible police raid.

Occupy L.A.'s website links to a blog post, "LAPD Made Sure The Whole World Ain't Watching," by journalist Ruth Fowler on the sore subject of law enforcement censoring media coverage. In the blog, Fowler includes two tweets sent out on Monday by the LAPD.

#LAPD meeting to do lottery to select “pool media” for future #OccupyLA activity. Interested media in pool must have rep attend mtg @ 7:15pm

RT @DavidBegnaud: #LAPD media relations to hold news conference at 7:15pm tonight @LAPDHQ regarding #occupyla #ktla

The media pool means that only a select number of pre-determined media endorsed by the LAPD will be permitted to cover the events unfolding during the last days of the City Hall occupation.

LAPD Media Relations posted an advisory about said meeting yesterday "to select Pool for possible future Occupy LA activity." The purpose of the meeting was "to discuss media issues related to the Occupy LA closure" and "conduct a lottery to select 'pool media' for consideration in future Occupy LA activity." The advisory also states, "Any outlet interested in being considered for the pool must have a representative attend this meeting, no exceptions."

Fowler's post explains that she emailed a member of the press who attended the meeting representing a MSM publication and received the below reply.

They were only going to let in one media outlet for each medium (print, tv and radio) but we convinced them to let in three....the only media eligible for pool were those who were on the LAPD press release list and able to get to headquarters with an hours notice. So very few were represented at the meeting. I asked about independent radio/blogs and they said that only media with LAPD-issued badges would be allowed in the vicinity. I asked about those already at the camp and they said after the unlawful assembly order everyone who doesn't leave will be arrested, even those who are journalists. Our attorney was looking into whether there were legal challenges to be made.

An absolute violation of the First Amendment, the LAPD is infringing on the freedom of the press.

In other related First Amendment violation news, Occupy L.A. has filed a complaint claiming their First Amendment rights have been violated. The complaint also states that because City Hall passed a motion recognizing the movement and occupation, the Mayor nor the LAPD can evict occupiers.

Editor's note: LAist is on the LAPD media list, and received the notice in our email, along with everyone else, at 5:33 p.m. The meeting was at 7:15 p.m. LAist was not able to send a representative to the meeting, however the point would have been moot, as we do not possess the "LAPD-issued badges" required to be considered media. -LWR

Contact the author of this article or email tips@laist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Lauren Lloyd in News on November 29, 2011 1:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Matches Malone

Not censorship, but an incredible simulation. I call it, common sense. As everyone with a website these days could be called a media outlet, why not create a system wherein everyone isn't rushing to the site, in order to get coverage.

PS, I guess I should've read trojan2002's remarks before posting, and actually replied directly instead. My Bad.

trojan2002

Actually they can do this.
1. Lauren referred to the illegal camp site as Solidarity Park, which implies she is preferntial to the movement. Which then implies she may interfere with the LAPD's actions.
2. In an environment of shutting down an illegal camp site, the LAPD is limiting the number of people in area. By keep the number of press to a pool the LAPD can better manage the area.
3. Press pools are used to cover the president and other events as well.

SisterSafetyPin

You are the PRESS! Congress shall pass NO law that infringes on that! That means the LAPD most definitely does NOT have the RIGHT to tell you where you can and cannot be. If you know when the LAPD plans to evict the LA Occupy movement you BETTER be there! Do. Your. Job! The world deserves to know these things. Whether you have a sanctioned badge or not.

ShakinBoots

Are they saying that if you had a rep there for the meeting, and you were picked in some random lottery, that they would then issue a pass that will be recognized by police is things should get roudy?

On one hand I can understand not wanting 100 media trucks or reporters getting mixed up with the protesters, BUT for them to pick and choose who is even considered for the lottery is WRONG. They wpuld have to extend that invitation to ALL news outlets, including bloggers.

For a mayor and police dept that are so afraid of bad publicity, do they ever consult legal council before making these ridiculous decisions and announcements?

Shawn Nee

LAPD does not decide who is press and who isn't, and the belief that this authority is granted to them needs to stop. Also, press credentials do not determine whether or not someone is press. More important, the Constitution dosen't mention anything about possessing credentials in order to call oneself press. It also says nothing about needing law enforcement/LAPD's approval to consider yourself or someone else press.

Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...

That is exactly what LAPD is doing.

Their press badge system is arguably unconstitutional and must be challenged.

ShutYourFace99

This is RIDICULOUS. The City and the Mayor cannot arbitrarily decide who can hear their press statements and who cannot. I hear little to nothing from the mainstream media regarding Occupy Wall Street and never is it about the issues at hand. They always find the one drunk guy or the patch of stoners (just arrest THEM!) and never talk about the Glass Steagall Act, the government recognizing corporations as "people", nor anything about the lobbyists lining politicians pockets in order to have a "sympathetic ear." LAist, I hope this angers you as a news source...