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Dereliction of Duty: New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal editors continue to trivialize assaults on the First Amendment
The editorial leadership of the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal downplay and deprioritize coverage of worsening attacks on press freedom. This is a dereliction of duty.
Minimal coverage of the indictments of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort expose the habitual democracy-washing of the escalating attacks on the First Amendment. The same influential media institutions that fail to accurately communicate the constitutional crisis or to stand up for American democracy in its existential battle against the fascist MAGA movement are also insufficiently covering the accelerating attacks on the First Amendment. It is not partisan for editors to prominently feature attacks on press freedom. To the contrary, it is a duty.
Key Takeaways
New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal leadership minimized coverage of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort indictment and arrests.
All three outlets had one sentence each on their influential front pages.
Online coverage was fleeting.
Within one day there was no further coverage of the Department of Justice acting at the orders of the President of the United States.
Good news: Editors of the Los Angeles Times and two local small papers did put the arrest on their front pages.
Timeline:
Thursday January 29, 2026 journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and others were indicted and arrested for being present at — and documenting as journalists — a peaceful protest at a church whose pastor was discovered to be a local ICE field director. Peaceful protest is protected by our First Amendment, as is Lemon’s and Fort’s right to report on events. These charges have been widely seen as a blatant attack on the First Amendment and the consequence of a MAGA- and weaponized U.S. Department of Justice.
The alarming fourteen-page complaint against Don Lemon, fellow journalist Georgia Fort (who is also vice president of the Minnesota National Association of Black Journalists NABJ chapter), and seven activists and civic rights lawyers, is remarkable for its fundamental affront to the First Amendment.
Friday January 30th, there was substantial online outrage from press, attorneys, historians, and news organizations. We joined other allies in signing on to and uplifting the statement by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) denouncing the indictment, demanding those arrested be released and all charges be dropped. You can read our post on the statement.
Saturday January 31st, the influential front pages of the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal each had a single line directing readers elsewhere.
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All three legacy media leaders failed to frame this as a First Amendment case instead taking a “view from nowhere” frame and making it a “protest” related case.
A.G. Sulzberger’s New York Times, Grade: D-. One sentence on A1. Text on A14.
Jeff Bezos’s Washington Post, Grade: D-. One sentence on A1. Text on A3.
Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal, Grade: D-. Misstated case “immigration enforcement protest” - no, it’s that the pastor is an ICE field director! Text on A3.
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Good News. Editors of three news outlets put the arrest of Don Lemon and others on their Front Pages. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s Los Angeles Times, St. Cloud Times (MN) and The Day (CT)
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Credit to the editors of these organizations for recognizing and prioritizing this story for their readers. These editors at least have not accepted the MAGA-Department of Justice propaganda that Lemon and Fort and others violated Federal civil laws.
“Journalists at state church protest arrested” is a strong headline. Factual. Objective.
It is a story unto itself of the weaponization of the Department of Justice against Americans and journalists - and that the White House is perversely reveling in it.
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Observations and Conclusions
It is stunning that the editors and publishers of the most influential news organizations in the country do not see abuse of power of the Federal Government against citizens exerting their First Amendment rights as a front page or multi-day story. Though these outlets did offer some coverage subsequent days, none of it was prioritized to be on the front or landing pages of their publications.
We provide additional context to this report in our post “The First Amendment is under siege. Journalists are being indicted and arrested”.
It seems that legacy media editors’ and publishers’ motto is “First Amendment rights for me - but not for thee” when it comes to citizens and journalists not in their organizations.
In the context of accelerating fascism and attacks on press freedom it would be wise for the leaders of journalists and especially those in prestigious and influential newsrooms to adopt the motto “All for one and one for all” (h/t Alexander Dumas).
We will continue to follow the coverage of this and other First Amendment cases.
And urge you to support and give your attention to news organizations and journalists that DO advocate for the First Amendment rights for all Americans.
ADDITIONAL READING:
The Trump Administration Arrested Don Lemon Like He Was a Fugitive Slave. Elie Mystal, The Nation
The Wrong Question. Two federal judges found no evidence Don Lemon committed a crime. The government arrested him anyway. Parker Malloy, The Present Age
The Case Against Don Lemon Is Junk, and Dangerous. Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic
Journalists must forcefully decry the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. Dan Froomkin, Press Watch
Don Lemon’s Arrest Escalates DOJ Crackdown on Black Journalists and Activists. Katie Herchenroeder, Mother Jones
Your pro-democracy action in support of a better-informed America
Ask the media oligarch who runs the New York Times why his “paper of record” is apathetic towards the rise of fascism, does not consider First Amendment attacks worthy of consistent front page coverage, and all while minimizing the pro-democracy movement:
Send a letter to A.G. Sulzberger - ask him if he has a red line that could lead him to switch gears at the NYTimes to meaningfully cover and prioritize attacks on the First Amendment?
Arthur G. Sulzberger
The New York Times Company
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
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