Then you weren't paying attention.
The Press is the only industry specifically mentioned in the Constitution's First Amendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The press being the source of information for the People to know what their government is up to their rights MUST be protected. And that means that the cops do NOT have the authority to order reporter, photographers, and videographers to stop what they're doing. Yet too many criminals with badges take it upon themselves to beat up practically anyone who has the nerve to photograph or video them in public.
While I'm not so enamored of 92% of the media being Democrats I am less enamored of the cops who act like cockroaches because they can't stand the light of scrutiny.
If a member of the Press is doing something that would get him arrested if a member of the public, then he should be arrested too.
The Press gets no right to break laws that apply to the rest of us because they're members of the Press.
Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom ... of the press
So what is that freedom? The absolute right to print anything they choose. Nothing more, nothing less. (Subject, of course, to after the fact suit for libel and such.)
Nowhere does it say that they get the right to break laws if it helps them get a story. Nowhere does it say a curfew that applies to everyone else can be ignored if I'm a reporter.
In today's world, the distinction is meaningless anyway. In 10 minutes I can have a blog up and running. Hey, look at me! I'm a member of the press and don't have to obey the laws the rest of you idiots do!
BTW, nowhere did I say the cops were right if they ordered the press to stop recording their actions. But then they wouldn't be right to do the same if those recording were NOT members of the press.
However, if the cops are clearing an area for legitimate public safety reasons, the press has to leave, too.