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
139 Exploring two centuries of “Clash” between presidents and the press
138 The trilingual La Gaceta: News, politics and opinion, all rolled into one.
137 Merger of News Media Alliance (NMA) and The Association of Magazine Media (MPA) is a go!
136 Stewart Bainum’s journey to launch the Baltimore Banner
135 Deep-fake videos make people doubt what they see with their own eyes
134 Latest Borrell study shows OTT on the rise surpassing search in 3-years.
133 ARPA Funding gives 150 Businesses Access to Advertise with the R-J
132 Meet Ben August, the new owner of NYC’s voice of labor, The Chief.
131 This 108-year-old Alaskan newspaper is free for the taking.
130 News vets exit the daily to start a growing nonprofit
129 Florida's public notice reversal. A panel discussion
128 Florida reverses recently approved legislation requiring public notices on local newspapers
127 One-on-one with columnist Rex Huppke, as war breaks out during his 1st week at USA Today
126 Getting to know the Military Veterans in Journalism
125 100-percent sponsored content. Jed Williams & Dave Arkin’s Check Out DFW
124 Why we need and how to achieve diversity, equity and inclusion
123 When a Texas daily folds, a weekly tabloid explodes.
122 News industry advocates appeal to Congress to pass safe-harbor bill
121 A frank chat with news publishing technology veteran Kurt Jackson
120 American Journalism Project makes good on a promise to fund nonprofit local news
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