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September 19, 2024
National Press Club issues a Statement on the Attack on One of its Members in Texas; the Attack infringed upon the Club Member's First Amendment Rights.
Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., April 16, 2015. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe. [File Photo]
Washington, DC, September 17, 2024
Emily Wilkins, President of the National Press Club, Washington, DC, has issued the following statement concerning a reported incident in the Dallas, Texas, area that may have infringed upon the First Amendment Rights of Rohit Sharma, a Member of the National Press Club.
” According to a recent article in India Today, and confirmed in conversations between Mr. Sharma and an NPC Board member, Sharma was at a hotel near the Dallas Airport awaiting the arrival of Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader in India, who was beginning a U.S. tour. While waiting, Sharma interviewed the Chair of the India Overseas Congress (IOC), Sam Pitroda. The two had previously met, and the interview was conducted professionally with an agreed-upon recording.
“Some members of the India Overseas Congress (IOC) and Mr. Gandhi’s advance staff were present during the interview. When Mr. Sharma raised a question that the audience objected to, they stopped the interview by shouting at him, pushing him, and taking his phone. Members of the group, including Gandhi’s staff, deleted files from Sharma’s phone and kept the phone from him.
“Pitroda, who had been whisked to the airport to meet Gandhi, later apologized to Sharma. He had no objection to Sharma’s question and was in the process of answering when the audience erupted. Later in the week, Rahul Gandhi answered a similar question at a Newsmakers event at the National Press Club.
“Security staff must be aware that reporters working in the U.S. are protected by the First Amendment, regardless of the nationality of the interview subject, reporter, or security teams. It was an on-the-record interview with ground rules set between Mr. Sharma and Mr. Pitroda. The security team had no role related to the content or duration of the interview. They had no right or standing to take Sharma’s phone from him or delete content.”
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. With over 2,500 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Source: National Press Club
— The Editor is a Member of The National Press Club.
Prominent Indian newspapers and news outlets, including the Press Trust of India, have featured the NPC statement in their respective publications.
The National Press Club has expressed concerns about potential infringements on the First Amendment rights of one of its members. In response, an association of journalists in India has submitted a memorandum to India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw has confirmed that his Ministry will forward the memorandum to the Press Council of India for necessary legal action against the culprits.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:33 PM | Link to this Post
