By Elizabeth Spiers 11/18/11 12:47am

Occupy the Media

Notes on the NYPD Press Credentialing Process, from the (Ineligible) Editor-in-Chief of the New York Observer

In a note responding to an earlier post from TheAwl detailing the various media organization associations of 26 reporters arrested during the Occupy Wall Street protests, Bloomberg spokesperson Stu Loeser tried to dismiss any accusations that the arrests were improper by noting that only five of the reporters arrested had valid NYPD press credentials. He then went on to Tweet at Observer News Editor Megan McCarthy:

@megan, you don’t have a press pass; that’s your option. But why should some random NYPD take your word that you’re press?

Aside from the question of whether credentialing by law enforcement is appropriate in the first place (inasmuch as it can potentially conflict with first amendment protections), the NYPD’s processes for acquiring credentials are, to put it nicely, Kafkaesque. To put it bluntly: they’re ridiculous. Read More

By Megan McCarthy 11/17/11 8:23pm

Occupy the Media

Picture 21

Bloomberg Spokesperson Admits Arresting Credentialed Reporters, Reading The Awl

Stu Loeser, Mayor Bloomberg’s spokesperson, just sent out a note regarding an Awl report listing the names of reporters arrested during the Occupy Wall Street protests. In the email, reprinted below, he goes on the attack, noting that only 5 of the 26 reporters arrested are credentialed by the city, almost as if to distinguish between the rights of credentialed and non-credentialed reporters.

And who were the actual, real, card-carrying, government certified reporters arrested? AP reporter Julie Walker and Patrick Hedlund from DNA Info were both issued Desk Appearance Tickets for Disorderly Conduct, while Paul Lomax of DNA Info and Karen Matthews and Seth Wenig, both of the AP, had their arrests for trespassing voided.

Full memo after the jump. Do enjoy, and, don’t forget: Bloomberg’s spokesperson reads The Awl. Be less stupid: Read More

By Azi Paybarah 1/04/10 5:13pm

Bloomberg’s Busy Day

On the first day of his third term, Michael Bloomberg traveled the city doing volunteer work. In Long Island City, he told reporters, “You think it’s a busy day. This is a normal mayor’s day, actually.”

By Azi Paybarah 10/04/09 9:31pm

Schumer and Gillibrand Endorsing Thompson

Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand will endorse fellow Bill Thompson for mayor at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Union Square, according to sources familiar with the arrangements.

The endorsements are scheduled one day after a “unity rally” on the City Hall steps, where Thompson was endorsed by a number of Democrats, including the Democratic candidates Read More

By Jason Horowitz 8/11/09 9:00pm

The Summer of Bloomberg

This week, Vanity Fair named Mayor Michael Bloomberg one of the world’s best-dressed men. The judges apparently missed the mustard-colored shirt he wore to the Pakistan Day parade, or the powder-blue socks he wore to the Yankees game.

Mr. Bloomberg is trying to keep up the appearance of a mayoral candidate in a real Read More