Being a journalist in Chicago has apparently become one of the more dangerous jobs in America, right up there with alligator dentist and tornado chaser. Three individuals were arrested after a group physically assaulted a CBS Chicago news crew near Adler Planetarium on June 29, 2026, as The American Tribune reported.
The crew was simply preparing for a newscast when two men decided that yelling racial slurs at one of the journalists was a reasonable life choice. They then escalated things considerably by rushing the crew and attempting to direct a dog to attack the victim. Because apparently trying to sic a dog on someone was not enough chaos for one afternoon, the suspects also smashed the windshield and camera on the crew's news van. The remaining equipment was secured behind police tape, captured in footage taken by an NBC Chicago photographer. Nothing says "normal Tuesday in Chicago" quite like a rival station photographing your crime scene.
A CBS spokesperson told CBS Chicago, "We are shocked and horrified by this crime and we are grateful that our journalists are safe."
The suspects initially fled in a white tow truck, because when you need a getaway vehicle, you grab whatever is available. Police caught up with them after a brief pursuit that ended at West 36th Street and South California Avenue. Charges have not yet been announced.
This is far from an isolated incident. Chicago journalists have been getting attacked with alarming regularity, which really makes you question the whole "freedom of the press" thing when the press can't even stand outside without getting jumped.
According to a report from The Daily Caller, back in February, a man attacked ABC reporter Leah Hope by grabbing her, forcing her jaw open, and grabbing her tongue. She suffered torn ligaments. Hope responded by saying the attack highlighted the need for better support for the homeless, which is a remarkably gracious take from someone whose tongue was just yanked on by a stranger.
In 2023, a Univision crew was robbed, and among the stolen items was the very camera that recorded the robbery. You have to admire the efficiency, if nothing else. That same month, WGN reporter Gaynor Hall was grabbed by the shoulders during a live broadcast by a man named Eric J. Farina, who then made explicitly sexual comments toward her. Farina pleaded guilty to battery and disorderly conduct and received 24 months of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, a letter of apology, and $1,000 in fines, court costs, and probation fees.
Decades of failed policies have turned parts of Chicago into what feels like a consequence-free zone for criminals. When news crews need their own security details just to report the weather, maybe it is time to admit that something has gone terribly wrong with how the city is being run. Just a thought.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
