For decades many federal agencies have been prohibiting reporters from talking to anyone without first requesting access through a public information officer (PIO). And over those years, these “PIO chokepoints” have gotten tighter and tighter, including oversight on conversations and demands for questions ahead of any interview. Reporters today are often not allowed to speak to anyone, even after acquiescing to censorship and controls.
First Amendment attorney and head of the Brechner Center, Frank LoMonte, wrote in a 2019 article: “Although the practice of gagging public employees from giving unapproved interviews is pervasive across all levels of government, decades’ worth of First Amendment caselaw demonstrates that blanket restrictions on speaking to the media are legally unenforceable.”
In July, twenty-five journalism organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) , called on the Biden administration to end these prohibitions and allow reporters to interview government sources without oversight.
In this 104th episode of “E&P Reports,” publisher Mike Blinder speaks with SPJ immediate past president and opinion editor at the San Diego News and Tribune, Matt Hall along with Chair of the SEJ and an editor at the Chesapeake Bay Journal, Tim Wheeler about how their two organizations (along with others) are working towards helping the industry
60 The LGBTQ+ Reader is Big Business for Aequalitas Media
58 A look at: "Publishing During A Pandemic" a Free Book from Mr. Magazine!
57 Checking-in with Gordon Borrell on State of the Industry
56 Non-Profit, Pure Play Daily Memphian is Making News in Memphis
55 The Future of Local News Media: Hear from Experts
54 Checking-in with the Tampa Bay Times, Now Printing 2 Days a Week
53 Ken Doctor Finally Reveals Lookout Local
52 Survey Asks: “What’s It Like to be a Journalist in 2020?"
51 Chris Hendricks Talks EPPYS with E&P
50 The Local Journalism Sustainability Act Needs Your Help, Now!
49 Small Market Paper Strives to Survive COVID-19
48 Saving the Vindicator!
46 How the Local Journalism Sustainability Act Will Provide Newsroom Tax Credits
47 The Relevance Project Helps Newspapers Boost Their Brand
45 Re-Visiting the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Free I-Pad Project
44 Standardizing Sales Packages = Higher Closing Ratios
43 How the Idaho Press Grew Circulation by More Than 40 Percent
42 Borrell’s Revised Ad Forecast Has Some Good News for Newspapers
41 Charleston Post & Courier is Going Statewide
40 New Study Reveals Local Media Leaders’ New Normal Predictions
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