My colleague, Josh Stearns, has been tracking journalist arrests at Occupy protests since the movement launched in September. His documentation of press arrests on social media platform Storify has earned him the site’s nod as “Storify of the Year.”

Since September, 36 journalists have been arrested in 10 cities. Many more have been harassed, roughed up or otherwise hindered while attempting to do their work. The arrests and suppression have occurred even as journalists have identified themselves to police as members of the press.

New York City Police have been the worst offenders. On a single day alone — Nov. 15, the day the NYPD forcibly evicted protesters from Zuccotti Park — 10 journalists were arrested. Later that month NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly ordered his department to “respect the public’s right to know about [Occupy] events and the media’s right of access to report.” The message didn’t sink in; on Dec. 17, a police officer rammed his fist into the throat of reporter Ryan Devereaux, who was covering a demonstration on Canal Street. Mr. Devereaux wore an ID identifying his press credentials.

Stearns will continue to chronicle journalist arrests on Storify and Save the News. This builds on the work Free Press did in 2008, when 50 journalists were arrested outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

“As we turn the corner into an election year, police and the press continue to clash at Occupy protests around the county,” Stearns said. “In the face of massive public outcry and coordinated pressure from press organizations, police departments are showing little sign that they have gotten the message.

“The fact that this issue was chosen as ‘Storify of the Year’ highlights how concerned people are about the impact of press suppression and journalist arrests. I hope I can help continue to shine a spotlight on these issues.”