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
180 Two embedded journalists are making an impact thanks to the JFP
179 Six diverse news disrupters band together to create the Alliance for Sustainable Local News
178 Small-town citizens share support for the saving of their newspaper.
177 Foreign affairs expert Richard Haass asks us to be a “better informed” citizenry in his latest book.
176 Ryan Dohrn on selling in a post-covid marketplace and why he is “all in” on Niche Media
175 Medford, Oregon: As one paper dies, another begins all in a few weeks.
174 Meet the Pulitzer Prize ADN journalist who helped inspire ABC's "Alaska Daily."
173 University of Oregon journalism chair asks Gannet to donate The Eugene Register-Guard to the school.
172 Steve Waldman’s Rebuild Local News Coalition — aggregating industry advocacy
171 The Bucks County Herald: A story of survival, moving from family to foundation-owned
170 Ken Doctor pulls no punches on why the JCPA was a bad idea & updates us on two years at Lookout Local.
169 The JCPA. What the heck happened, and what's next?
168 Emmy award-winning broadcaster born without legs is helping others with disabilities find media careers. Meet Dave Stevens.
167 Journalism Trust Initiative. Elevating journalistic integrity
166 This year’s “best-ofs” from E&P columnist/ contributor Rob Tornoe
165 The best of 2022 E&P's "The Corner Office," from consultant/ columnist Doug Phares
164 A frank one-on-one with the LMA's Nancy Lane
163 ProPublica founder Dick Tofel speaks on funding/ philanthropy flaws and more
162 Against big tech comp, paywalls & more. 1-on-1 with Jeff Jarvis
161 One-on-one with Community Impact’s John Garrett
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