“A Southern California man has been arrested after being charged with joining the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol while trying to impersonate a member of the media,” NBC News reported on Saturday, July 10, 2021 (read story here).
“Matthew Thomas Purse, 45, was arrested in Irvine on Friday,” NBC News said, adding, “Purse was photographed inside the Capitol wearing a tactical vest and black helmet marked with the word ‘press,’ according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday. There is no evidence that Purse has legitimate press credentials or is affiliated with any news organization, the FBI said in an arrest warrant affidavit accompanying the complaint.” (See photo at right.)
It occurs to me this might not be the best disguise to use in a mob that hates the media.
At least he was wearing a helmet.
Not every journalist have press credentials. What the FBI considers to be legitimate press credentials is likely limited to law enforcement and other government entities. It doesn’t cover say sport locations and are generally by the venue. The press also issues credentials, but the press is not as it was. A journalist may not have credentials or may not have them for the area they are in, but it does not make them any less of a journalist. The police have also gotten into the habit of arresting journalists who do have press passes and have followed the polices directions or reasonable thought they were. There is not a law making it illegal to impersonate a member of the press. The press may actually want to be a bit more supportive of this guy and Julian Assaunge in the presses own interest. Bloggers and what not are filling in for what the press once did. There are fewer and fewer beat reporters and bloggers are stepping into the vacuum, but th4ey don’t come will all the accouterments of yesterdays newspaper reporter.
You’re too hung up on credentials, and aren’t paying enough attention to what a “journalist” is. If you’re there to observe and report, not participate in the news event, you’re a journalist. If you’re the one making news, you’re not.