Post-Gazette Staffer Barred From Protest Coverage Leaving Paper

PITTSBURGH, PA — One of two black Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalists barred from covering protests over the death of George Floyd announced he is leaving the newspaper. Photographer Michael Santiago announced over the weekend that he is accepting a buyout that was offered in May.

The Post-Gazette has gained national attention for pulling Santiago and Alexis Johnson from covering demonstrations related to the death of Floyd, the unarmed black man who died while being taken into custody by four police officers in Minneapolis. The officers are facing murder and
other charges.

Johnson was told she was pulled because management was convinced her coverage could not be unbiased because of a tweet she posted. Santiago and dozens of other P-G- worker then were forbidden from covering the protests after retweeting the original tweet.

NewsGuild-CWA, an organization representing hundreds of thousands of media members and telecommunications workers internationally, has called for the resignations of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette executive editor Keith Burris and managing editor Karen Kane.

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh also wants the editors to step down.