The Beatings Will Continue

Until the coverage improves.

See if this sounds familiar?

…
A Newsweek reporter, press credentials pinned to his coat and not interfering with the police was coolly and systematically beaten. A Philadelphia newsman was told, “Hey, you dirty bastard, give me that goddamn notebook,” by a policeman who had been jabbing a girl… As he surrendered his notebook, the policeman clubbed him and left him bloody.

Seven newsmen were attacked by police that night. In only one case could there have been any mistake made about the person’s identity. It was clear the police were looking for reporters, that they were the prime target.

…
[The next night], scores of people were beaten badly enough to require hospital treatment, including twenty newsmen. After Sunday’s jolting experience, reporters had mistakenly taken to wearing even bigger press credentials, which only served to attract the police like hungry sharks. The confiscation of film continued, and several cameras were damaged.

So, Cairo?

Bahrain?

Libya?

Nah.

Chicago, 1968.

… After Sunday night, some policeman warned their friends among Chicago reporters to be careful, that the word was out to get the press. "Daley, who shared the police’s distrust or reporters, supported the attacks by claiming that they were not serious and no fault of the police. This was his way of getting the message across..."

-- “Boss”, by Mike Royko.

The Democratic Convention was actually the second police riot in Chicago in 1968. The first happened in the Spring of that year when, having been jerked around by various city departments over insurance and permits, Peace March participants were attacked and beaten by the cops without provocation. From Wikipedia:

On April 27, 1968, a Peace March was held in Chicago in conjunction with marches around the country. After stalled permit negotiations, march organizers were issued a permit for a march. They were allowed to use half of the sidewalk, and have a brief rally at the downtown Civic Center Plaza. During the march, police held marchers for several series of stoplights and otherwise harassed marchers. After the marchers reached the Plaza, police allowed for a brief pause before beginning to disperse the crowd. They used their nightsticks upon demonstrator’s legs and backs to hurry their departure, arrested and beat people who stepped off the curb into the street, taunted demonstrators with foul language, and otherwise harassed them.

The reason you probably never heard of it?

Because local media didn't cover it.

There was a public outcry at the police brutality but, as none of the major newspapers had planned on covering the march, the City had time to spin the situation in their favor. No police officers were charged in connection with the April 27 violence.

And the beat goes on.