This is NOT the aftermath of a protest and ensuing riot….This is the aftermath of the recent Kenny Chesney concert in Pittsburgh!
Just the facts, ma’am….Just the facts!
And the Post Gazette management weenies never let the ‘facts’ get in the way of a personal Tweet!
According to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, a Black reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been recently barred from covering protests in honor of George Floyd, a Black man killed last week by a Minneapolis Police officer
Pittsburgh City Paper obtained a letter that was sent to members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which is the union that represents 140 journalists at the P-G. The letter indicates that reporter Alexis Johnson was removed from any coverage related to the George Floyd protests that have been ongoing in Pittsburgh for the last several days.
According to the letter, Johnson was pulled off of any protest coverage because of a tweet she sent on May 31 which poked fun at the mess typically made outside of Kenny Chesney concerts, and compared that to people who were upset about property damage that occurred following a protests in honor of George Floyd, a Black man killed last week by a Minneapolis Police officer
“With Alexis Johnson’s permission, we are letting you know about an extremely troubling situation,” read the letter. “Attached please find a tweet that Alexis posted, which went viral. It came to the attention of the powers that be, who on Monday confronted her in a conference call, told her she showed bias and as such, could no longer cover anything related to the protests of the police murder of George Floyd and the systemic racism that for too long has been a dirty segment of our national fabric.”
When reached for comment, Johnson directed CP to Guild President and P-G reporter Mike Fuoco.
Fuoco says he was not the one to leak the letter, and that it was meant to be shared between guild members. However, he says he stands by the letter’s demands, including that Johnson be reinstated to coverage.
“This is such an extraordinary case, and with Alexis’ permission, we wanted to let our members know what was going on……We are appalled. And our international [union] is appalled.”
Mike Fuoco
Guild President and P-G reporter
Fuoco says that guild members met with P-G management over Johnson’s coverage removal yesterday to try and resolve the issue and get her coverage reinstated. Fuoco says management told him Johnson’s tweet called into question her objectivity. Guild leadership responded, calling that logic specious. At that point, Fuoco says that P-G managing editor Karen Kane told guild leadership to just “go file your grievance.”
“In previous administrations at the P-G, this never would have happened……….It would have been resolved. This is how management acts now.”
Mike Fuoco
Guild President and P-G reporter
Kane told CP that she can’t comment on this story. A request for comment to P-G executive editor Keith Burris was not returned.
Fuoco also notes that the P-G doesn’t have a social media policy, and defends Johnson’s tweet, calling it “food for thought with a touch of humor.” He also thinks Johnson should be on coverage of protests more than other P-G staffers because of her experience as a Black woman.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette removes a Black reporter from George Floyd protest coverage, says union
Calamity Jane