KFI, KNX Cover LA Protest

[michael hagerty]

The news car that was vandalized? Whoever it was likely didn't know it was a news vehicle.

It was unmarked---and in a color that looks like it came straight out of a government motor pool. Also wearing paper plates instead of the California Press Photographer plates.

When I was a reporter, I had one rule---if you're going into trouble and you think you're better off without the station logo, at least get a color that makes it look like it didn't come from the GSA motor pool:

News Car Attack — FTVLive

This news vehicle got a new paint job…

www.ftvlive.com

 

[TheBigA]

Instead, the story appears to be that KCBS learned of the raids already in progress from a source in the neighborhood and reported what was being observed in the neighborhood. That happens every day in big city radio newsrooms.

This is a timeline of the raid, from KRON:

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/ice-agents-carry-out-operation-in-san-jose-mayor-says/

The San Jose mayor also called KCBS. So did the Rapid Response Hotline. As I said in the KCBS thread, the same people called all the news orgs in the city. They all reported the same story. You can research their posts online. They're all still there. The only one being investigated by the FCC is KCBS, and the main reason, according to Brendan Carr, is because of the Audacy debt holder.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

The news car that was vandalized? Whoever it was likely didn't know it was a news vehicle.

It was unmarked---and in a color that looks like it came straight out of a government motor pool. Also wearing paper plates instead of the California Press Photographer plates.

When I was a reporter, I had one rule---if you're going into trouble and you think you're better off without the station logo, at least get a color that makes it look like it didn't come from the GSA motor pool:

News Car Attack — FTVLive

This news vehicle got a new paint job…

www.ftvlive.com

Yes my take here that’s it’s a stringer car given that been vandalized as seen in shows where they showed behind the scenes at places like OnScene TV one of the most famous Stringer operations in Los Angeles they used unmarked cars to get to the scenes of major events in Los Angeles. But in this case the news outlet that owns the truck wants to remain anonymous due to where this is going such as escalation in this event.

 

[TheBigA]

Apparently there is now some dispute over whether or not Dr. Phil was in fact present during the LA ICE raid.

Dr Phil was embedded with ICE agents during LA raids

Conservative TV personality and Trump supporter wanted ‘to get a first-hand look at the targeted operations’

www.independent.co.uk

A few hours later, the LA Times disputed that reporting:

No, Dr. Phil wasn't present at L.A. ICE raids, but he taped interview with Trump's border advisor

Dr. Phil interviewed White House border advisor Tom Homan in Los Angeles for his network MeritTV, but did not embed with ICE during raids as he'd done previously in Chicago.

www.latimes.com

“MeritTV news crews were on the ground during the recent ICE operation in L.A. on Friday,” a MeritTV spokesperson said. “In order to not escalate any situation, Dr. Phil McGraw did not join and was not embedded, as he previously was in Chicago.”

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

USA: RSF condemns wave of violence against journalists covering Los Angeles protests

At least 27 attacks on journalists covering protests in Los Angeles took place between June 6 and June 8. The assaults have been carried out by both law enforcement and protesters. Violence against journalists while they are reporting is unacceptable under any circumstances, and Reporters...

rsf.org

Here is an updated list of incidents that journalists had to face while covering the fallout of the protests in Los Angeles.

Almost immediately after the protests erupted, journalists were under physical attack. Multiple media workers reported being shot by police with “less-than-lethal munitions” (LLM) such as pepper balls, rubber bullets, and tear gas canisters, including Southern California News Group’s Ryanne Mena, freelance journalists Anthony Cabassa and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, The Southlander’s Ben Camacho, British photojournalist Nick Stern, and LA Taco’s Lexis Olivier-Ray. Disturbing footage shows Australian TV reporter Lauren Tomasi being shot with LLM by police while reporting live on the air. A video posted by NBC LA shows police in military-style gear aggressively pushing reporter Mekahlo Medina. Another video shows police firing on a KCBS/KCAL TV crew.

There have also been at least three alleged incidents of violence by individual protesters against journalists trying to cover the protests. In an online video, demonstrators appear to threaten and chase away a TV crew for KTTV Fox 11, as well as independent journalist Aldo Buttazzoni. A KTTV Fox 11 news van was also broken into and vandalized.

 

[davideduardo]

Here is an updated list of incidents that journalists had to face while covering the fallout of the protests in Los Angeles.

If you followed the last several days, you realize that the protesters had a very well planned system to relocate as soon as they were controlled by police at one intersection. So there was a constant movement of demonstrators and police, with journalists often caught in the middle of the two opposing groups.

It does not seem that any of the journalists were selected to be hit with pepper balls and the like. They were, likely, in the wrong place as the crowds moved around.

In several... three in fact... situations I have been in a similar situation... and all got me in the middle of police tear gas firings aimed at demonstrators. It was simply that our news team was too close to the demonstrators, and we were "collateral damage".

 

[davideduardo]

A similar situation has hit Santa Ana, California. But this one is mainly being covered by local news outlets in Los Angeles while the national news are focused on the city of Los Angeles over the same issue.

At least one cable news channel ran split screens of LA and Santa Ana most of yesterday evening.

 

[leethalweapon]

Here is an updated list of incidents that journalists had to face while covering the fallout of the protests in Los Angeles.

I saw this morning (AEST) that a cameraman from Australia's ABC was hit with a tear gas canister as well. It's about 50 seconds in...

 

[exbloguero]

I’m scared how far this will go.

Personally, I also share the fear of the direction the issue is taking. And I totally condemn the violent actions, justifying them as nationality issues. Mexico does not represent that spirit. But I don't want to stray from the topic. At least on the other side of the border, Televisa-Univision has the narrative with its coverage.

 

[gr8oldies]

If you followed the last several days, you realize that the protesters had a very well planned system to relocate as soon as they were controlled by police at one intersection. So there was a constant movement of demonstrators and police, with journalists often caught in the middle of the two opposing groups.

It does not seem that any of the journalists were selected to be hit with pepper balls and the like. They were, likely, in the wrong place as the crowds moved around.

In several... three in fact... situations I have been in a similar situation... and both got me in the middle of police tear gas firings aimed at demonstrators. It was simply that our news team was too close to the demonstrators, and we were "collateral damage".

The Australian journalist was doing a stand-up in the open and not near anyone. The shooting was targeted and deliberate.

 

[michael hagerty]

The Australian journalist was doing a stand-up in the open and not near anyone. The shooting was targeted and deliberate.

Clearly.

You can see the officer who fired look in her direction 15 or so seconds prior to the shooting, then look back again just before firing. And when all hell breaks loose, you can see that all that's in that direction are members of the press.

Internal Affairs is gonna have that guy for lunch.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Internal Affairs is gonna have that guy for lunch.

As it should be. The public loses confidence in law enforcement whenever these sort of incidents occur.

 

[gr8oldies]

Clearly.

You can see the officer who fired look in her direction 15 or so seconds prior to the shooting, then look back again just before firing. And when all hell breaks loose, you can see that all that's in that direction are members of the press.

Internal Affairs is gonna have that guy for lunch.

One would hope.

 

[leethalweapon]

So there have been 4 Australian media staff caught up in this current violence.

Fourth Australian media worker struck in LA riots; press groups say journalists ‘targeted’

TV camera operators, a newspaper photographer and reporters have been hit with rubber bullets, some apparently deliberately.

www.theage.com.au

 

[michael hagerty]

So there have been 4 Australian media staff caught up in this current violence.

Fourth Australian media worker struck in LA riots; press groups say journalists ‘targeted’

TV camera operators, a newspaper photographer and reporters have been hit with rubber bullets, some apparently deliberately.

www.theage.com.au

That feels beyond coincidence.

 

[gr8oldies]

That feels beyond coincidence.

I listened to about an hour of KNX Monday and they had a brief interview with one of the journalists who were shot (I think the British one).

 

[davideduardo]

As someone who has been caught multiple times "in the middle of" a manifestation that turned into a riot or an attempted revolution or something similar, I do have to make a couple of observations.

First, it is possible that journalists and reporters who want to get "close ups" of the situation simply got too close for safety. Police don't need to babysit reporters.

Second, such "events" often move in unpredictable ways, swallowing up reporters and bystanders. This happens often.

Third, these recent events seem to have a core group (black clothing, black hoodie, black masks, black gloves) that is equipped with some kind of communications equipment. As soon as police and other authorities get one group contained, they suddenly appear all at once on another corner or in another block. In other words, this is more like a chess game than an upset or angry mob.

In all these cases, journalists, reporters and "film" crews can get trapped in the middle of these rapidly moving groups. In events in other countries, some of the protesters have been carrying fake press cards from non-existent news agencies!

 

[K.M. Richards]

David, with all due respect, while all of those are indeed valid observations, none of it appears to be the case here.

The reporter had a camera pointed at her. Not a smartphone ... an actual broadcast-quality camera. She was holding a microphone with a big bright blue windscreen identifying her employer. She was wearing a light colored top over jeans. There were no protestors around her; she was north of the activity while she was reporting. The video clearly shows that the officer looked at her while she was reporting, then looked again at her before aiming and firing the rubber projectile.

I'm not LAPD Internal Affairs, but I know they cannot ignore this and I suspect that video is going to factor into their investigation.

 

[michael hagerty]

As someone who has been caught multiple times "in the middle of" a manifestation that turned into a riot or an attempted revolution or something similar, I do have to make a couple of observations.

First, it is possible that journalists and reporters who want to get "close ups" of the situation simply got too close for safety. Police don't need to babysit reporters.

Second, such "events" often move in unpredictable ways, swallowing up reporters and bystanders. This happens often.

Third, these recent events seem to have a core group (black clothing, black hoodie, black masks, black gloves) that is equipped with some kind of communications equipment. As soon as police and other authorities get one group contained, they suddenly appear all at once on another corner or in another block. In other words, this is more like a chess game than an upset or angry mob.

In all these cases, journalists, reporters and "film" crews can get trapped in the middle of these rapidly moving groups. In events in other countries, some of the protesters have been carrying fake press cards from non-existent news agencies!

Now, go watch the video (in fact, you don't have to go, here it is):

She's clearly part of the media in a media zone. They are not moving. Half a dozen officers are standing there.

Ten seconds before the incident, one looks at her, turns away, then turns back, aims and fires at the reporter.

No other officers followed suit.

As the reporter and cameraman run, you can see that behind them is no threat---just other journalists.

 

[TheBigA]

In all these cases, journalists, reporters and "film" crews can get trapped in the middle of these rapidly moving groups.

We also have many documented situations where poorly trained police over-react and shoot anything that moves:

Dozens Of Journalists Targeted, Shot, Detained While Covering LA Protests, Press Org Says

“I never thought for one moment that I’d actually have to be fearful of law enforcement during a public protest," said one photojournalist hospitalized after getting shot in the leg.

www.huffpost.com