On Wednesday morning, Brazilian journalist Jamil Chade broke the news that International Olympic Committee executive Pat Hickey had been arrested on allegations that he illegally sold Olympic tickets as part of a small scalping ring.
Hours later, the IOC revoked Chade’s credential to the hotel where Hickey was reportedly arrested, in apparent payback for reporting the story.
IOC withdrew my acreditation to have access to hotel where hickey was arrested. The pass was valid until 22.08 and given to me on 01.08
— Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016
no reason
— Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016
Chade smartly tweeted about having his credential removed, creating a mini-firestorm and essentially forcing the IOC to restore his credential. Either that, or the IOC felt like there was no more damage for Chade to do. Either way, the reporter got his access back.
IOC says confiscation was a "mistake" and gives document back. pic.twitter.com/zrjw4Yekba
— Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016
Reporters have been getting their access pulled as punishment for doing their jobs as long as journalism has been around, but social media has provided a valuable recourse. Remember when Rachel Nichols and Michelle Beadle were banned from covering Floyd Mayweather after they criticized his domestic violence record? Or when Michigan failed to invite the student newspaper to a press conference after they broke a negative story? A few tweets and a little outrage later, apologies were issued and credentials restored.
Eventually, institutions will learn that banning reporters isn’t worth the PR hit. Until then, there will be more Jamil Chades and more “mistaken” credential withdrawals.
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