Journalists under fire here in America

Photojournalist Linda Tirado, 42, is dying.
When she arrived in Minneapolis to cover the civil conflict after the murder of George Floyd, she had impact-resistant goggles, a respirator, and a large PRESS lanyard around her neck. Despite this, Linda found herself targeted by Minneapolis police officer Andrew Braun, who deliberately shot her in the face with a 40 mm impact projectile, instantly blinding her left eye and causing a traumatic brain injury on May 29, 2020.
That injury to her brain is killing her, and she recently announced she is in hospice care in Tennessee. Linda’s husband is trying to cover the bills for her care. They have two children watching their mother die.
Tirado sued the Minneapolis police, and received $600,000 as part of a settlement in 2022.
Last week, Communities United Against Police Brutality (4200 Cedar Ave. S.) launched a scholarship fund to honor Tirado. Four $5,000 scholarships will be given in Linda’s name to Minnesota photojournalism students each year. “These scholarships will ensure that Linda’s legacy, bravery and service to the community are not forgotten and that others will follow in her footsteps,” wrote CUAPB in a press release.

Shocking number of threats
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) recently surveyed 610 journalists who attended 26 IWMF safety trainings across 11 states. The data revealed a shocking number of threats to American journalists’ safety and well-being, they report.
A decade ago, we would have been stunned to hear that these incidents are taking place in the United States, they point out.
Journalists experience physical violence, harassment, threats of gun violence, verbal attacks and sexual harassment while on assignment and in the workplace. While working as journalists:
• 36% (of 597) respondents reported being threatened with or experiencing physical violence
• 33% (of 566) respondents reported being threatened with or experiencing digital violence
• 28% (of 568) respondents reported legal threats or action against them
• 24% (of 582) respondents experienced sexual harassment and an additional 6% (of 582) were threatened with sexual violence
Find the full report at www.iwmf.org/underfire/. 

Tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed and shot at
Linda isn’t the only journalist injured here in this country that prides itself on freedom.
A shocking one-third of the attacks on journalists in 2020 that occurred in the U.S. happened in Minnesota. Members of the press were attacked, tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed, and shot at with rubber bullets/projectiles.
Like Tirado, journalist Jared Goyette was also was shot in the face by police while covering the Uprising. He was joined by news photographer Craig Lassig; photojournalists Tannen Maury, Stephen Maturen, Tim Evans, Ed Ou and Chris Tuite; and Katie Nelson, a journalist, photographer and videographer in a suit against the city with the help of the ACLU of Minnesota because of the injuries they got while covering the protests. The suit also cited several instances in which Star Tribune reporters were detained or injured by law enforcement projectiles, although none was a plaintiff. The city paid out $950,000 in February 2024.
“This is a major victory for journalists covering protests in the United States of America,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “We joined this lawsuit to support America’s journalists who were brutally attacked by police while doing their job. We are proud to support and fight for journalists defending a free press in our democracy.”
Other journalists were harmed by the State Patrol.
As written in a Star Tribune article by Liz Sawyer:
Two Los Angeles Times journalists trapped and targeted by Minnesota State Patrol troopers while reporting on civil unrest in Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd settled their federal lawsuit with the state agency for $1.2 million in April 2024. Photographer Carolyn Cole and Houston bureau chief Molly Hennessy-Fiske were battered with blunt projectiles, tear gas and chemical spray by troopers interfering with their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights ... on May 30, 2020 ... at E. 31st Street and Nicollet Avenue – near the Fifth Precinct police headquarter. ...
“Being attacked by the [Minnesota] State Patrol four years ago was an experience no other journalist should have to face,” Cole wrote in a statement. “I hope this ruling, upholding our First Amendment rights, will help to protect other photographers and reporters trying to do their jobs.” ...
Both women have covered dangerous conflict zones abroad for decades and know the risks involved, but say that until 2020 they had never been singled out this way by police.
“During my nearly 25-year career, I have covered numerous law enforcement agencies and protests in various states and overseas,” said Hennessy-Fiske, who now works for the Washington Post. “This was the first time that I was attacked by authorities.”
The vast majority of the settlement – $1 million – is expected to pay legal fees for their Minneapolis-based law firm. Cole and Hennessy-Fiske have a agreed to split the remaining $200,000, their attorney confirmed.

WHY AREN’T THINGS GETTING BETTER?
When I first wrote about this issue in 2020, I hoped it marked a turning point and that things would shift back to protecting the vital work journalists do. It’s pretty disheartening to see these current statistics come across my desk.
Over the last four years, I’ve asked myself and others how change happens.
How do we protect each other from those who might abuse their power?
One thing I know is that the press is a powerful force, shining light in dark places. And I’m worried when journalists are dying here in America, the land of the free and the brave.