Ryan Schuessler, a freelance journalist who has been covering the demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo., for Al Jazeera America, wrote a blog post today about how he won’t be returning to Ferguson tonight and the reasons why: “The behavior and number of journalists there is so appalling, that I cannot in good conscience continue to be a part of the spectacle,” he writes.
Wow. Gut check moment? http://t.co/G7dY5VSpIm
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 21, 2014
I will not be returning to #Ferguson. A hastily-written, brief explanation of why: http://t.co/SUW5I4a7E8
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
Among those incidents Schussler cites in his blog post are (shockingly) “Journalists making the story about them.” He concludes:
There are now hundreds of journalists from all over the world coming to Ferguson to film what has become a spectacle. I get the sense that many feel this is their career-maker. In the early days of all this, I was warmly greeted and approached by Ferguson residents. They were glad that journalists were there. The past two days, they do not even look at me and blatantly ignore me. I recognize that I am now just another journalist to them, and their frustration with us is clear. In the beginning there was a recognizable need for media presence, but this is the other extreme. They need time to work through this as a community, without the cameras.
Frustrated #Ferguson resident confronted me about media presence last night: "Yall are out here photographing US, but who gets paid?!?"
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
Last night I met a journalist who was excited about networking opps in #Ferguson. Asked if I would take a picture of him w/ Anderson Cooper
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
Felt I owed the new followers b/c of #Ferguson a reason. I frequently tell stories from MO, and hope you will have as much interest in them
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
I wish all the people of #Ferguson the best as they work through this difficult time.
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
I recognize the irony in that post, calling out others for making #Ferguson about them. Willing to be a hypocrite to point all this out.
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 21, 2014
@clairecmc @mattdpearce I can name several journalists & one alderman who clearly need to check their motives. Star-struck reporting.
— M4A is Not Negotiable (@SeattleSoaker) August 21, 2014
@clairecmc @murraysm Nothing in his letter surprises me. #Ferguson #sideshow
— Louis from St. Louis (@Louis1_STL) August 21, 2014
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