1997.04.12: April 12, 1997: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Journalism: New York Times: Brooklyn DA dismisses disorderly conduct charge against a freelance reporter who was arrested last month
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2007.04.14: April 14, 2007: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Chicago Tribune: Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell Missing in Philippines :
Read stories by and about Julia Campbell who was a free lance journalist in New York City before joining the Peace Corps:
1997.09.01: September 1, 1997: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Journalism: Columbia Journalism Review: Julia Campbell, a New York Times freelancer, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct at rapper Biggie Smalls's tumultuous funeral on March 18, 1997 :
1997.04.12: April 12, 1997: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Journalism: New York Times: Brooklyn DA dismisses disorderly conduct charge against a freelance reporter who was arrested last month
Brooklyn DA dismisses disorderly conduct charge against a freelance reporter who was arrested last month
Calling the arrest unfortunate, Police Commissioner Howard Safir announced the decision to seek dismissal of the charge yesterday, saying in a news release that ''pursuing charges would be counterproductive to the Police Department's goal of fostering good relations between the police and members of the press, and its understanding of the public's right to know about the activities of police officers, particularly at scenes of public demonstrations.'' According to the release, Mr. Safir's characterization of the arrest as unfortunate was accompanied by an acknowledgment from Michael Oreskes, metropolitan editor of The Times, that Ms. Campbell's use of harsh language in the heat of the moment was ''not appropriate.'' The two men pledged to work toward a better understanding between officers and reporters.
PCOL Comment: Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell has been missing since April 8 in a mountainous northern area about 160 miles north of Manila Campbell, 40, was last seen in the town of Banaue in Ifugao province, where she had planned to hike alone. The area is famed for its mountainside rice terraces and pine forests. The New People's Army also operates there.
Brooklyn DA dismisses disorderly conduct charge against a freelance reporter who was arrested last month
Woman Who Wrote for 'NYT' Missing in the Phillippines
By E&P Staff and The Associated Press
Published: April 14, 2007 1:00 PM ET
Caption: New York Times stringer Julia Campbell is handcuffed by police as she is arrested and charged with disorderly conduct during a disturbance that broke out in the Brooklyn borough of New York after the funeral procession of rap star The Notorious B.I.G., Tuesday, March 18, 1997, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Svensson)
[Excerpt]
A New York Times account on April 12, 1997, included the following.
***
At the request of the Police Department, the Brooklyn District Attorney yesterday dismissed a disorderly conduct charge against a freelance reporter who was arrested last month while covering the funeral procession of the slain rapper Christopher G. Wallace for The New York Times.
Calling the arrest unfortunate, Police Commissioner Howard Safir announced the decision to seek dismissal of the charge yesterday, saying in a news release that ''pursuing charges would be counterproductive to the Police Department's goal of fostering good relations between the police and members of the press, and its understanding of the public's right to know about the activities of police officers, particularly at scenes of public demonstrations.''
The reporter, Julia Campbell, was arrested on March 18 during a scuffle between police officers and rap fans in Fort Greene, near the family home of Mr. Wallace, who recorded under the names Biggie Smalls and the Notorious B.I.G. At the time, she was wearing a Police Department press pass issued to The Times.
The news release also said, ''Both the Police Department and The New York Times agreed that the arrest could have been avoided with a greater degree of insight and respect by both the police officers and the reporter for their respective roles in attempting to do their jobs under difficult and dangerous circumstances.''
According to the release, Mr. Safir's characterization of the arrest as unfortunate was accompanied by an acknowledgment from Michael Oreskes, metropolitan editor of The Times, that Ms. Campbell's use of harsh language in the heat of the moment was ''not appropriate.'' The two men pledged to work toward a better understanding between officers and reporters.
The New York Press Club, which has said there is a pattern of police mistreatment of reporters and photographers at news events, said it was happy that the charges had been dropped.
The Press Club statement added: ''We are still mystified by the details placed in the police report about Ms. Campbell exhorting the crowd to disobey the police and pushing an officer. Clearly, the Commissioner says he intends to do better in the future. We applaud his resolve to improve relations with the press. But the proof of this will be in what happens when reporters and photographers try to cover stories.''
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Peace Corps Annual Report: 1997; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Journalism
When this story was posted in April 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: New York Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Safety; Journalism
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