Golden Gate Xpress

Protests in the Bay Area San Francisco and SFSU

both have a long history of protest rallies.

People here have protested everything from wars to budget cuts to abortion rights to killings by police

Risks of covering protests Getting hurt

Getting detained by police so you can’t do your job

Getting arrested

Having your equipment confiscated by police

Missing deadline

SF Chronicle reporter Vivian Ho is handcuffed and led away by BART police at last week’s protest.

Photo by Brittney Barsotti

Before the protest action Acquaint yourself with the issues – read past articles

Have facts ready so you can write your story quickly

You may want to write up a few paragraphs of background

Collect contact info for organizers, police public information officers

Create a reporting plan. Consider: Whom do you want to interview before the protest or

event starts? What questions do you want to ask?

What footage do you need to get?

How early do you need to arrive to get the interviews and footage you need?

Where can you get Internet access?

What are the rules about shooting video? Permits are required to shoot video using tripods at national monuments and parks.

What to bring Comfortable shoes

Camera and video camera (even if you are a reporter)

Notebook and pen

Charged cell phone

Xpress press pass

Official ID

Sunscreen

Extra batteries for equipment

Water and a snack – it may be a long day

AND THESE PHONE NUMBERS

Your editors’ phone numbers and email addresses

Rachele Kanigel 510 421-1613, 510 530-0593

Jim Wagstaffe, attorney 415 254-8615 (for emergencies if you get arrested; try to reach Rachele first)

Tips for covering protests Don't trespass onto property that is clearly private or marked with a

police line. If a police officer orders you to do something, even if it seems

unreasonable or ridiculous or interferes with your job, do it -- unless you're willing to live with the consequences of being arrested.

Don't call the arresting officer names or get into a shoving match. If you're covering a demonstration or other event likely to result in

arrests, keep $50-100 cash in your pocket to purchase a bail bond. If you're able, give your notes or film to another journalist who can get

them back to your newsroom promptly. Always keep a government-issued photo ID (in addition to a press pass)

in your pocket. It may speed up your release from custody. Also, know the name and phone number of the police department

spokesperson, who may be able to help. Call the Reporters Committee's 24-hour hotline, (800) 336-4243.

Source: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Use social media Use Twitter to cover major points, particularly ones

that impact readers – road or transit station closures, arrests, important announcements

File your story ASAP Phone in or email notes to your editors so they can

post a quick news alert or brief story

Follow up with a more detailed story that day

Be sure to get multiple perspectives – police, protesters, protest organizers, passersby who may be affected

Don’t editorialize! Be fair and objective

Details to include in protest story Size of crowd

Location

Who organized event

Arrests

Injuries

Acts of vandalism or violence

Intent of protest

Police response – how did police control the crowd?

Road/transit station closures, transit delays

Promote story on social media