Posted on 08/01/2022 7:25:55 AM PDT by Red Badger
A journalist was barred from covering the execution of a convicted killer because officials claimed that her skirt was too short.
Ivana Hrynkiw Shatara – the managing producer of news video and social media for AL.com – attempted to cover the state execution of Joe Nathan James Jr. at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore on July 28. James Jr. was sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend -Faith Hall.
Alabama Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Kelly Betts told Shatara that she could not cover the execution because her outfit was “inappropriate” and “too revealing.”
“I have worn this skirt to prior executions without incident, to work, to professional events and more, and I believe it is more than appropriate,” Shatara wrote on Twitter. “At 5’7″, and 5?10? with my heels on, I am a tall and long-legged person.”
“I tried to pull my skirt to my hips to make the skirt longer, but was told it was still not appropriate,” she added.
A photographer from a Birmingham TV station provided Shatara with “Columbia PFG style fisherman’s wader pants” to wear so she could cover the execution.
“I put on the man’s pants and attached the suspenders underneath my shirt to stay up,” Shatara explained. “Then, I was told my shoes (open toe heels) were also too revealing and I needed to change shoes.”
Shatara then went to her car to change into a pair of tennis shoes.
“This was an uncomfortable situation, and I felt embarrassed to have my body and my clothes questioned in front of a room of people I mostly had never met,” the reporter noted. “I sat down, tried to stop blushing, and did my work. As women often have to do.”
Kelly Ann Scott – the editor-in-chief and vice president of content for Alabama Media Group, which owns AL.com – declared that the treatment of Shatara was “unacceptable” and “unequal.”
“I’m proud to work with Ivana, who despite this treatment, continued to report the story with professionalism to our audiences in Alabama,” Scott said, according to PennLive. “This was sexist and an egregious breach of professional conduct. And it should not happen to any other reporter again.”
On Friday, AL.com sent a formal complaint to the Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Betts personally apologized to Shatara for the incident, but added that the dress code was being enforced.
“The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has an administrative regulation regarding visitation to any ADOC facility,” Bets said in a statement. “Within this regulation, there is a dress code for all visitors, including reporters covering executions. All administrative regulations are posted on the ADOC website.”
“The wardens of each ADOC facility enforce this dress code based on each event and current safety conditions,” Betts continued. “It will be the policy of ADOC in the future to remind all members of the media about this dress code before any media event taking place at an ADOC facility.”
“We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this regulation may have caused,” the statement read. “We hope by including it in future media advisories, we can avoid this kind of situation.”
The Alabama Department of Corrections’ dress code for visitors states that they must “be dressed in business or business casual attire.” “All dresses, skirts, and pants shall extend below the knee (females only),” and “splits/slits must be knee length or lower (females only).”
Regarding shoes, the only regulation is that “slippers, shower shoes, and beach shoes” are prohibited.
There is no specific dress code policy for members of the media.
There was a second female journalist who was subjected to the same clothing inspection in front of the media center room prior to the execution. The Associated Press reporter passed the dress code.
The Associated Press sent a letter to the Alabama governor demanding that an investigation be launched and “ensure such behavior is not tolerated and does not occur again.”
“Singling out female reporters for arbitrary clothing inspections is humiliating, discriminatory and simply unacceptable behavior toward professional journalists trying to cover one of the most serious events they are called upon to witness,” said AP executive editor Julie Pace.
WXIA-TV journalist Kaitlyn Ross said, “I have also been denied entry in to a government facility to report on a court case because my professional clothing was deemed ‘too revealing.’ It’s exhausting to be a woman. You did a great job under ridiculous circumstances. I’m sorry this happened.”
There was a three-hour delay in the execution because of issues establishing an intravenous line for James Jr., according to prison officials. The inmate was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m., WTVY reported.
What a way to go.
Cripes, after that epic whining I would have been tempted to strap her to the gurney..
She’d probably complain about the mattress pad.
You can’t discount insanity being the reason. I should have amended my post to say all sane people.
Pretty insensitive if you ask me.... If that’s the outfit she wore...
Because they're stupid.
and if it was death by electrocution, it could have become a reverse lightning rod. Like a Tesla coil.
Heck, here in the South they used to be held on the courthouse lawn on a Saturday, and everybody came with their families and picnic lunches to watch !..................
I would assume this prison allows females to visit inmates. I’m sure they have a dress code for obvious reasons. If this is just the enforcement of the accepted dress code, this is a completely meaningless incident.
“ Singling out female reporters for arbitrary clothing inspections is humiliating, discriminatory and simply unacceptable behavior ”
They don’t allow much, if any female skin showing at a male prison. Nothing new about that. Visitors are advised of this rule. The chic should have covered up a little bit instead of getting all butt-hurt.
Are you really missing the point by that much?
This is not a party - dress appropriately
Prisons do
Maybe because noone had safety glasses on. Besides, Their prison their rules. She can whine all she likes- she doesnt set policy.
There are two times in our lives that are the most important: now and when we die. Her outfit was inappropriate and disrespectful to not just the other people observing but most importantly, to the man dying. When I read that she tried to pull her skirt DOWN TO HER HIPS I didn’t have to see the photo.
The Prison Managers don’t need to have a woman intent on drawing sexual attention to herself interfering with their duty to maintain order among the inmates. The rules were very clear and available to her. She chose to ignore them and took offense when they were enforced appropriately. Typical.
Tough noogies.
Those were the good ol days........
She is very attractive in those photos. If she is wearing a short dress and open toed high heels....it does sorta seem less somber than the moment.
She would be a distraction for me. Cause I would be glancing over at her probably too much. The relations of the victim and the perp might not like the attention given to her. Even if she is attractive.
It is, at least, an event involving the Untimely death of two people.
I hope the regulations are clarified further so that arbitrary decisions are less common.
Reporters gotta’ remember...they ain’t no. 1..
Prisons have dress codes.
.......
Can you guess why?
***********
Let me guess. We don’t need to be encouraging more rape fantasies in prisoners. If that’s sexist: boo hoo.
No excuses...
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