Press Freedom Center Releases Statement on Dropped Charges Against Cincinnati CityBeat Journalists
WASHINGTON, July 24 — The following is a statement from National Press Club President Mike Balsamo:
“We are relieved that felony charges were dropped yesterday against two journalists from Cincinnati CityBeat: reporter Madeline Fening and photojournalism intern Lucas Griffith. They were arrested while covering a protest on the Roebling Bridge on July 17.
These charges should never have been filed. The journalists clearly identified themselves, were reporting from a public space, and were engaged in constitutionally protected newsgathering. They were doing exactly what a free press in a free society must do — bearing witness, informing the public, and holding power to account.
Their arrest was not only a misjudgment by law enforcement but a direct assault on the First Amendment. Using the criminal justice system to intimidate or silence journalists has no place in a democracy.
Press freedom is not a foreign fight. It is tested here at home, in our cities and counties, every time a journalist steps into the field. When members of the press are punished for doing their jobs, it is the public that loses. We lose access to information. We lose oversight. We lose fundamental rights.
Fening and Griffith still face misdemeanor charges. We call on the Kenton County Attorney’s Office to drop those charges immediately. This is not just about two reporters. This is about whether the people of Kentucky — and the nation — will continue to have an informed and independent press.
The National Press Club stands firmly with these journalists and with all reporters who face retaliation simply for doing their jobs.
Journalism is not a crime. It is a cornerstone of American democracy.”
About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, [email protected] for the National Press Club Center for Press Freedom