Covering the Federal Takeover: Gathering arrest data, knowing the law, and other tips for journalists covering D.C.

Journalists covering the federal takeover of D.C.'s law enforcement have a lot to keep up with, including a slew of executive orders, near-daily public rallies and press conferences, and video footage that conveys conflicting messages depending on who's released it.

So, how can journalists gather the most accurate and up-to-date information to tell stories that best serve the public? How can they distill the facts and overcome challenges around obtaining crucial arrest data when contextualizing the latest news?

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute and the D.C. Open Government Coalition for an online briefing on Friday, Sept. 5 at noon ET to learn best practices for gathering arrest data, learn the D.C. Codes that address access to public information, and gain insight into covering the law enforcement agencies that are active in the capital city. Registration for this free webinar is open. 

Speakers:

• Robert Becker, D.C. Open Government Coalition board member
• Fritz Mulhauser, secretary and co-chair of the D.C. Open Government Coalition’s legal committee
• Moderator: Elliot C. Williams, National Press Club Journalism Institute Training Manager

This briefing is geared toward answering questions from journalists covering Washington but may be relevant to journalists covering other cities where federal troops and officers have been or could soon be deployed.