In Charlotte, MMJ Paige Pauroso opened up about being assaulted while in the field, which has started a nationwide conversation on Twitter about the safety of journalists.
Pauroso is a reporter for WBTV in Charlotte and last week she was shooting generic street video when a woman verbally and physically assaulted her. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
“Two reminders in this post. For other journalists, be careful. For people outside of the industry, your local journalists aren’t the enemy, we’re your neighbors. We all call the same place home and work towards the same goals; to make our community a better place,” she wrote.
Two reminders in this post. For other journalists, be careful. For people outside of the industry, your local journalists aren’t the enemy, we’re your neighbors. We all call the same place home and work towards the same goals; to make our community a better place. pic.twitter.com/y7HL8AhNB2
— Paige Pauroso (@PaigePauroso) November 8, 2019
In the video, you see an unidentified woman crossed the street and hit Pauroso in the head with her camera. Thankfully she says she is OK but the video caught the attention of MMJs and reporters across the country.
“So glad you are okay. This should never happen. I hope the coward is caught and charged. All who work as a One-man-band (or mmj) step into it every day. No backup. No extra eyes for trouble. And trouble IS out there. Fortunately, 99% of folks are great to us. To them, Thank You,” wrote her co-worker Steve Ohnesorge.
So glad you are okay. This should never happen. I hope the coward is caught and charged. All who work as a One-man-band (or mmj) step into it every day. No backup. No extra eyes for trouble. And trouble IS out there. Fortunately, 99% of folks are great to us. To them, Thank You.
— Steve Ohnesorge WBTV (@WBTVSteveO) November 8, 2019
“We don’t know each other but I’m sending you love and hugs from Philadelphia. Praying you’re ok. Stand strong sis,” said Philadelphia reporter Shawnette Wilson.
@PaigePauroso We don’t know each other but I’m sending you love and hugs from Philadelphia. Praying you’re ok. Stand strong sis. ❤️
— Shawnette Wilson (@SWilsonFOX29) November 9, 2019
Pauroso’s original post has more than 3,000 retweets and thousands of comments.