Media literally under fire in Capital Gazette shooting

Embed from Getty Images

Capital Gazette itself reports:

Journalists dived under their desks and pleaded for help on social media. One reporter described the scene as a “war zone.” A photographer said he jumped over a dead colleague and fled for his life.

The targeted attack comes after a Capital Gazette columnist wrote about a criminal harassment case against alleged shooter, Jarrod W Ramos.

Time confirms that 170 people were safely evacuated from the building, which houses 30 tenants.

Capital Gazette quotes their crime reporter Phil Davis, in describing the scene as follows:

I’m a police reporter. I write about this stuff — not necessarily to this extent, but shootings and death — all the time. But as much as I’m going to try to articulate how traumatizing it is to be hiding under your desk, you don’t know until you’re there and you feel helpless.

This specific shooting is a severe blow for media freedom, and tributes are pouring in on social media, with many pointing out a link to US President Donald Trump branding the free press as 'enemy of the people' just this week:

This was Trump on Monday night calling the free press "the enemy of the people". #CapitalGazetteShooting pic.twitter.com/Dhscs5SE0V

— Matt Rogers (@Politidope) June 29, 2018

Capital Gazette reporter Selene San Felice emotionally recounts the shooting at the paper and tells CNN, "I'm going to need more than a couple days of news coverage and some thoughts and prayers." pic.twitter.com/BQWABJQnZo

— Mashable News (@MashableNews) June 29, 2018

Devastated & heartbroken. Numb. Please stop asking for information/interviews. I’m in no position to speak, just know @capgaznews reporters & editors give all they have every day. There are no 40 hour weeks, no big paydays - just a passion for telling stories from our communty.

— Jimmy DeButts (@jd3217) June 28, 2018

for non journalists reading about the Capital Gazette shooting, I wanted to share a glimpse of what a reporter’s inbox can look like.

(I recall referring the last one to our security team bc it was particularly menacing) pic.twitter.com/N2Csp6XiQK

— David Mack (@davidmackau) June 28, 2018

After the shooting in Annapolis, Maryland, staffers at the Capital Gazette are still putting out a newspaper https://t.co/WgmQZmPibt pic.twitter.com/L6OCCbNjaO

— CNN (@CNN) June 29, 2018

The Annapolis shooting suspect is confirmed as Jarrod Warren Ramos. Six years ago he sued Capital Gazette and lost. But he didn't bother to shoot up the place until after Donald Trump started promoting violence and scapegoating journalists. This is precisely as ugly as we thought

— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) June 29, 2018

My heart is with the Capital Gazette and its staff. My prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of the shooting victims and the wounded. My soul is with Journalism and Journalists. Long Live The Fourth Estate! #WeNeverQuit

(Image by Lucille Clerc) pic.twitter.com/SINzPQEGqt

— Martha Adams (@marthajadams) June 29, 2018

Read more