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
120 American Journalism Project makes good on a promise to fund nonprofit local news
119 Auto ad dollars are up for grabs, per Borrell's latest study
118 Reporters share insights into reporting on January 6th attack and domestic extremism
117 6AM City takes a bold move into the digital news future
116 A preview of Borrell Miami
115 An update on the antitrust case against Google & Facebook
114 A home page with over 100 ads
113 States starve publishers of ad dollars if they refuse to pledge political allegiance
112 Alden Global Capital's bid for Lee Enterpises, what the heck does it mean?
111 TV Sales Expert, Jim Doyle's book, "Selling with a Servant Heart"
110 Urgent and Sustained Advocacy Needed for the LJSA
109 From TV network news producer to editor of 90 local, online only news sites
108 Fighting for a Native American free press
107 Prognostications, predictions and prophecies from industry execs
106 With 27 community papers meet Cherry Road Media
105 Behind Raw Story’s Progressive Mission
103 Word in Black: Helping the Black Press Survive & Thrive
102 One File Helps Distinguish Between Real & Fake News
101 Radically Rural: Focusing on small-town America
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