Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter sues newspaper over protest coverage ban

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter is suing the newspaper, claiming racial discrimination and retaliation after management barred her from covering local protests stemming from the death of George Floyd.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday is the latest in a series of events that began June 1, the date on which the lawsuit alleges the newspaper pulled Alexis Johnson off protest coverage. Johnson, who is black, was told a post on her private Twitter page showed bias and that commenting on a matter in the news precluded her from covering the story, the lawsuit states.

The May 31 tweet, which included four photos of trash-strewn parking lots in the wake of a concert by country music star Kenny Chesney, read:

“Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don’t care about this city!!!!! …. oh wait sorry. No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. Whoops.”

Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don’t care about this city!!!!!

.... oh wait sorry. No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. Whoops. pic.twitter.com/lKRNrBsltU

— Alexis Johnson (@alexisjreports) May 31, 2020

The tweet was meant “to — and did — mock, ridicule and protest discrimination against African Americans by society in general and by whites who equate property damage with human life,” the lawsuit filed by Pittsburgh attorney Sam Cordes states.

The newspaper’s failure to take action against journalists who spoke out against hatred and discrimination following the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018 is an example of disparate treatment accorded Johnson, the lawsuit states.

Neither Post-Gazette Executive Editor Keith Burris nor Managing Editor Karen Kane immediately responded to email and phone messages seeking comment.

In a letter to readers posted June 10, Burris said the actions against Johnson were in keeping with journalistic standards that prohibit reporters from issuing public statements of opinion about issues they are covering. He dismissed the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh’s complaints on behalf of Johnson as part of the union’s ongoing labor dispute with the company.

Cordes said the newspaper’s managers erred when they retaliated against Johnson.

“You can’t take an adverse action against someone who protests discrimination,” he said.

Newspaper Guild President Michael Fuoco said his union has been careful to separate its contract interests from the dispute concerning protest coverage.

“It’s a totally separate issue and has nothing to do with mistreatment of Alexis and entire newsroom,” Fuoco said. “We simply asked them to apologize and lift the ban they placed on Alexis. These are people who refuse to admit they were wrong.”

Johnson’s lawsuit seeks to force the Post-Gazette to reinstate her on the story and asks the court to order the newspaper to compensate her for any diminishment of career advancement due to its action. She also seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The decision to ban Johnson from covering the story drew national attention to the newspaper that has been involved in a lengthy contract dispute with the union.

Michael Santiago, an award-winning photographer at the Post-Gazette who is black, tweeted support of Johnson and then also was removed from the story. Santiago has since accepted a buyout and is leaving the paper.