Press freedom panel to cover when and where photographers have right to shoot Tuesday, Oct. 20

The proliferation of cellphone cameras, a heightened sensitivity by law enforcement authorities to being photographed and several well-publicized incidents have brought the right to photograph in public into sharp focus.

The National Press Club's Photography Committee, in collaboration with the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), will hold a panel discussion on "The Right to Photograph and Record on the Ground and in the Air" on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. The session will be held in the Broadcast Center, Studio A, on the fourth floor.

The event is free for all attendees thanks to an NPPA donation that will allow the Club to waive the customary fee for non-Club members.

Space is limited and advance registration is required for Press Club members as well as non-members. For the complete program and to register click here.

This session will examine constitutional questions (issues, search and seizure, exigent circumstances, and qualified immunity) as well as provide practical advice regarding the best ways to handle these situations. There will also be discussion of privacy concerns, police body cams and the latest legal updates on the use of drones for newsgathering.

Speakers include the chief of staff of Washington's Metropolitan Police Department, as well as a prominent federal privacy official, a photojournalist, an owner of a drone photography firm and others. This should be a landmark event and one that you won't want to miss.