JAWS condemns removal of woman reporter from Colorado state Republican assembly

Colorado Sun reporter and past president of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) ejected from the Colorado Republican Party state assembly for past coverage deemed “very unfair” by party leaders

Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) strongly denounces the actions taken by Colorado Republican Party leaders who called Pueblo County Sheriffs to force veteran reporter Sandra Fish from the party’s convention yesterday. We call upon leaders of all political parties to provide access to all members of the media as representatives of the public.

“Journalists like Sandra Fish cover political meetings to bring information to their readers, viewers and listeners - the public - about what their elected officials are doing. A political party cherry-picking which reporters it wants to cover its meeting deprives the public of information it deserves and sets a dangerous precedent in a country where press freedom is enshrined in the Constitution,” JAWS President Angela Greiling Keane said. 

According to news reports, Fish was removed from the event where party leaders choose their candidates for upcoming elections at the request of the state’s Republican Party leader.

Fish, who has been covering politics for more than 40 years, served as JAWS president from 2015 to 2017 and is the current co-chair of the Programs & Services Committee. The Colorado Sun is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet.

Since 1985, the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) has been for working journalists, journalism educators and researchers from across the United States. Members meet in person and online to share resources, support, training and information about the issues that affect women in the industry. JAWS advances the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and advocates for more inclusive coverage of the diverse experiences and cultures that comprise our society.