Portland, Oregon, reporter Gillian Flaccus and freelance photographer Paula Bronstein teamed up to break news on the violent Portland protests that ended with the death of a man affiliated with Patriot Prayer, a Northwest right-wing organization.
A man identified as Aaron “Jay” Danielson, a member of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group, is treated after being shot in Portland, Ore., Aug. 29, 2020. Danielson died of his injuries.
AP Photo / Paula Bronstein
In the confusion after the fatal shooting it wasn't immediately clear what had happened or who the dead person was. Through sourcing and determined reporting, Flaccus was able to confirm key details and provide context on the ongoing violence. Using Bronstein’s photos and eyewitness account, Flaccus confirmed the victim was wearing a Patriot Prayer hat, then used her sourcing within that organization to be first to accurately report the victim’s name, while other media initially misidentified him.
Working further with Washington, D.C., colleagues, Flaccus covered the Portland mayor’s extraordinary news conference, in which Mayor Ted Wheeler engaged in a real time debate with President Donald Trump over who was to blame for the mayhem. While covering the spot story she also wrote a smart profile of the Patriot Prayer organization itself, which moved Sunday evening.
Supporters of President Donald Trump listen to speeches at a rally in Clackamas, Ore., before a caravan of about 600 vehicles through Portland, Aug. 29, 2020.
AP Photo/ Paula Bronstein