United States: CFWIJ denounces the harassment of journalist Lyndsey Gough

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September 6, 2021, Georgia- Sports director for WTOC11, Lyndsey Gough, endured intimidation from random fans and spectators while reporting from the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 5. As Lyndsey was setting up her shot, she was touched by fans who appeared to be intoxicated. Some spectators continued to interfere with the journalist by crowding the area and obstructing the camera. The CFWIJ condemns the reckless behavior of fans and stands in solidarity with Lyndsey. We believe newsrooms must ensure that women sports journalists feel safe and secure while reporting on the ground. We also call on stadium management to intervene when spectators threaten the safety of the press within the premises.

Lyndsey shared the frustrating experience in a tweet stating she felt violated by fans during the first live hit. In another tweet, she said, "After the first guy touched me, I started rolling… This isn't even all of it. So uncomfortable. Can we please respect people's space?" She found herself surrounded by several fans as she attempted to report the game updates. The fans kept parading in her way, making it impossible for the journalist to record. She politely asked many of the fans to move to no avail. The chaos forced Lyndsey to wrap her shot unfinished, as seen in the video.

The journalist posted a number of clips to highlight what women sports journalists go through in a situation like this. She also snapped at a Twitter troll who mocked the journalist for being uncomfortable because fans wanted to be on camera. Lyndsey replied that she doesn't care about who wants to be on camera— she cares about who is touching her, her equipment, and violating her personal space. 

Several sports journalists offered support to Lyndsey and condemned the public intimidation. They defended her right to protect her personal space while doing her job. Sports broadcaster Darren Vaught quoted her tweet and shared, "Dudes I promise you can still have fun and be excited about your team winning without touching people you don't know."

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the invasion of Lyndsey's personal space. We urge newsrooms to provide better resources to their field staff to handle such situations. Stadium management should also provide safe spots for press coverage by keeping fans and spectators at a distance. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with Lyndsey and commends her for her courage and commitment.