For as long as demonstrations have taken place, journalists covering these events have dealt with exceptional circumstances. Bringing a gas mask and carrying protective gear have become necessities on the job, occasionally even serving as a shield against authorities' tactics to control the environment.
"I even bring a bullet proof vest because of past experiences, " said photojournalist Al McCinness during a conference organized by the Canadian Association of Journalists about how to cover a protest.

For as long as demonstrations have taken place, journalists covering these events have dealt with exceptional circumstances. Bringing a gas mask and carrying protective gear have become necessities on the job, occasionally even serving as a shield against authorities' tactics to control the environment.

"I even bring a bullet proof vest because of past experiences, " said photojournalist Al McCinness during a conference organized by the Canadian Association of Journalists about how to cover a protest.

Although authorities implement security measures, journalists are still caught in the middle of the violence. According to Idella Storino, producer of CBC's Newsworld, journalists covering demonstrations are rarely safe, because police have stopped differentiating between them and the protesters.

"They say it's because in the split second that they have to make a decision they can't pick out who's not a protester, " she said. But Storino remains dubious about how hard it is to recognize a notepad and press pass.

McCinness recounted an incident during the Oka crisis when journalists were hit with tear gas.
"The protesters were on the street and the journalist were on the side... police sent two [canisters of tear gas] down the street and two at the journalists... their intent was very clear," he said.

He explained that when the police start getting defensive, they tend to develop a sense of solidarity. "You're either in uniform or you're not."
Journalists don't get special treatment. "They'll ask you to move once. If you don't they will move you," said McCinness.

Journalist Peter Ray suggested that the best alternative is to let the police spokesperson know you're there to do a job. "Chances are you won't be treated like crap," he said. He also advises to be cooperative with the cops. "If you find yourself in a head to head with a cop don't get into an argument." McCinness agrees that arguing your journalist status is useless.

Ray also emphasized the importance of not getting in the middle of a scenario. It's better to step back from the events to report them. However, getting the full story is sometimes impossible, according to Storino. The police have the ability to manipulate the story through security safeguards. McGuinness explained that whatever is considered a "police operation" is basically off-limits.

Yves Schaeffner, Editor-in-Chief of Ici, also expressed his concern over the police's reluctance to share information, whether it concerns a protest or not. He believes that it's even more of a challenge for an alternative press, as opposed to dailies .

"Nowadays, it's hard to even get a simple press release from the police," he said during a phone interview.

He's also very concerned about the trend to keep journalists away from protesters.
"It's important to talk to protesters and get their side as well," he said.

McCinness feels that there is a slow encroachment on the freedom of journalists, when it comes to the issue of journalistic material being subpoenaed. He said that journalists are not protected by the law on this matter.

"I think we have to fight it. I'm not the surveillance team for the MUC," he said.