Constitutional Law, Media, Politics, Society

Coalition of Journalism Groups Denounce Obama Administration for “Politically-Driven Suppression of the News”

100px-Society_of_Professional_Journalists_logoPresident_Barack_ObamaWe have previously discussed the attacks by the Obama Administration on civil liberties and privacy. Obama has also been accused of attacks on press freedoms — resulting in a sharp decline in the standing of the United States on press rights. Now 38 journalism groups have denounced the Obama Administration for censoring media coverage, limiting access to top officials and overall “politically-driven suppression of the news.”

The letter to President Obama is led by the widely respected Society of Professional Journalists. The media has previously denounced the Nixonian surveillance on individual journalists ordered by this Administration. The letter singles out Obama’s breaking of his campaign pledge to have the most transparent Administration in history. Instead, the Obama Administration has equalled or even surpassed the Bush Administration in secrecy and hostility to public or press access to information. While cutting of access of the media, however, these media organization accuse the Obama Administration of giving wide access to lobbyists, special interests and “people with money.”

Once again, the White House has a virtually army of commenters and blog surfers who continually deflect such criticism by referring to how much worse the Republicans are or simply changing the subject. However, the mounting attacks on civil liberties by this Administration has gutted the foundational principles of the Democratic party and virtually destroyed the American civil liberties movement. What is left the power of personality over principle. However, this will not our last president. When he leaves, he will leave little in his wake beyond hypocrisy for those who have remained silent in the face of the abuses. It is the victory of the “blue state/red state” construct that maintain the duopoly of the two parties. Each party excuses its failures by referring to the other as the worst of two evils. For years, Democrats and liberals have supported Obama as he has attacked the defining values that were once the Democratic party. The fact that this letter is even necessary is a shocking statement on the state of American press freedom.

The letter is below:

President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C
July 8, 2014

Mr. President,

You recently expressed concern that frustration in the country is breeding cynicism about democratic government. You need look no further than your own administration for a major source of that frustration – politically driven suppression of news and information about federal agencies. We call on you to take a stand to stop the spin and let the sunshine in.

Over the past two decades, public agencies have increasingly prohibited staff from communicating with journalists unless they go through public affairs offices or through political appointees. This trend has been especially pronounced in the federal government. We consider these restrictions a form of censorship — an attempt to control what the public is allowed to see and hear.

The stifling of free expression is happening despite your pledge on your first day in office to bring “a new era of openness” to federal government – and the subsequent executive orders and directives which were supposed to bring such openness about.

Recent research has indicated the problem is getting worse throughout the nation, particularly at the federal level. Journalists are reporting that most federal agencies prohibit their employees from communicating with the press unless the bosses have public relations staffers sitting in on the conversations. Contact is often blocked completely. When public affairs officers speak, even about routine public matters, they often do so confidentially in spite of having the title “spokesperson.” Reporters seeking interviews are expected to seek permission, often providing questions in advance. Delays can stretch for days, longer than most deadlines allow. Public affairs officers might send their own written responses of slick non-answers. Agencies hold on-background press conferences with unnamed officials, on a not-for-attribution basis.

In many cases, this is clearly being done to control what information journalists – and the audience they serve – have access to. A survey found 40 percent of public affairs officers admitted they blocked certain reporters because they did not like what they wrote.

Some argue that controlling media access is needed to ensure information going out is correct. But when journalists cannot interview agency staff, or can only do so under surveillance, it undermines public understanding of, and trust in, government. This is not a “press vs. government” issue. This is about fostering a strong democracy where people have the information they need to self-govern and trust in its governmental institutions.

It has not always been this way. In prior years, reporters walked the halls of agencies and called staff people at will. Only in the past two administrations have media access controls been tightened at most agencies. Under this administration, even non-defense agencies have asserted in writing their power to prohibit contact with journalists without surveillance. Meanwhile, agency personnel are free speak to others — lobbyists, special-interest representatives, people with money — without these controls and without public oversight.

Here are some recent examples:

• The New York Times ran a story last December on the soon-to-be implemented ICD-10 medical coding system, a massive change for the health care system that will affect the whole public. But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), one of the federal agencies in charge of ICD-10, wouldn’t allow staff to talk to the reporter.

• A reporter with Investigative Post, an online news organization in New York, asked three times without success over the span of six weeks to have someone at EPA answer questions about the agency’s actions regarding the city of Buffalo’s alleged mishandling of “universal waste” and hazardous waste.

• A journalist with Reuters spent more than a month trying to get EPA’s public affairs office to approve him talking with an agency scientist about the effects of climate change. The public affairs officer did not respond to him after his initial request, nor did her supervisor, until the frustrated journalist went over their heads and contacted EPA’s chief of staff.

The undersigned organizations ask that you seek an end to this restraint on communication in federal agencies. We ask that you issue a clear directive telling federal employees they’re not only free to answer questions from reporters and the public, but actually encouraged to do so. We believe that is one of the most important things you can do for the nation now, before the policies become even more entrenched.

We also ask you provide an avenue through which any incidents of this suppression of communication may be reported and corrected. Create an ombudsman to monitor and enforce your stated goal of restoring transparency to government and giving the public the unvarnished truth about its workings. That will go a long way toward dispelling Americans’ frustration and cynicism before it further poisons our democracy.

Further examples on the issue are provided as well as other resources.

Sincerely,

David Cuillier
President
Society of Professional Journalists
spjdave@yahoo.com

Beth Parke
Executive Director
Society of Environmental Journalists
bparke@sej.org

Kathryn Foxhall
Member
Society of Professional Journalists
kfoxhall@verizon.net

Holly Spangler
President
American Agricultural Editors’ Association

Gil Gullickson
Board Chair
American Agricultural Editors’ Association Professional Improvement Foundation

Alexandra Cantor Owens
Executive Director
American Society of Journalists and Authors

Janet Svazas
Executive Director
American Society of Business Publication Editors

David Boardman
President
American Society of News Editors

Hoda Osman
President
Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association

Kathy Chow
Executive Director
Asian American Journalists Association

Diana Mitsu Klos
Executive Director
Associated Collegiate Press

Paula Poindexter
President
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

Miriam Pepper
President
Association of Opinion Journalists

Lisa Graves
Executive Director
Center for Media and Democracy

Rachele Kanigel
President
College Media Association

Gay Porter DeNileon
President
Colorado Press Women

Sue Udry
Executive Director
Defending Dissent Foundation

Mark Newton
President
Journalism Education Association

Mark Horvit
Executive Director
Investigative Reporters and Editors

J.H. Snider
President
iSolon.org

Phyllis J. Griekspoor
President
North American Agricultural Journalists

Carol Pierce
Executive Director
National Federation of Press Women

Robert M. Williams Jr.
President
National Newspaper Association

Bob Meyers
President
National Press Foundation

Charles Deale
Executive Director
National Press Photographers Association

Diana Mitsu Klos
Executive Director
National Scholastic Press Association

Mary Hudetz
President
Native American Journalists Association

Jane McDonnell
Executive Director
Online News Association

Patrice McDermott
Executive Director
OpenTheGovernment.org

Tim Franklin
President
The Poynter Institute

Danielle Brian
Executive Director
Project on Government Oversight

Jeff Ruch
Executive Director
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

George Bodarky
President
Public Radio News Directors Incorporated

Mike Cavender
Executive Director
Radio Television Digital News Association

Herb Jackson
President
Regional Reporters Association

Christophe Deloire
Secretary General
Reporters without Borders

Frank LoMonte
Executive Director
Student Press Law Center

Roy S. Gutterman
Director
Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University

David Steinberg
President
UNITY Journalists for Diversity

229 thoughts on “Coalition of Journalism Groups Denounce Obama Administration for “Politically-Driven Suppression of the News””

  2. Facts 8

    So you have Debtors counsel, creditors counsel and bankrupt CEO all (secretly) partners in protecting Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital.

    GSachs to bury the pump-n-dump schemes;
    and Bain/Kay Bee to get eToys as cheap as possible.

    Bankruptcy fraud statutes presume guilt when you don’t disclose an asset and/or self dealing. So I need no proof of material adverse harm; but I have it in GRAND Larceny form.

    $2 million in hidden overseas cash deposits not declared (by David Haddad who then became President of “Project Greenlight”) and the sale’s price reduction of eToys.com from $10 million down to $3 million.

    Plus, Stage Stores was co-Debtor with LIquidity Solutions (of Hackensack NY) who just so happen to begin to acquire eToys claims right after Barry Gold’s illegal arrival.

    MNAT and Traub even drafted Barry Gold’s “Confirmed Plan Administrator” Declaration to state that;

    “the PLAN was negotiated in EXTENSIVE arm’s length, good faith negotations between Debtor and Creditors”.

    That’s between MNAT/Barry Gold (secretly working for Wells Fargo, Bain/Kay Bee and Goldman Sachs) and Paul Traub (also secretly working for same entities, plus Playco and his ADA partnership with Barry Gold).

    The PLAN includes the fact that the Administrator (Barry Gold) can settle all eToys claims for less than $1 million – WITHOUT the court’s permission.

    All Barry Gold needs is the permission of the Creditors (his partner Paul Traub) who then got back to Bain/Romney via Liquidity Solutions the extra tens of millions I made their bids go higher to be.

    http://petters-fraud.com/Oct_2011_Exh4_SnapShot_PlanPartC44_extensiveArmsLength.pdf

  3. So where is the balance between an informed public and a government’s need to protect itself? Really, no government is going to be loved and honored by all of its citizens because it always does the right thing. And no matter how good it is, people develop their own identity by opposing what seems right to others. Hence some kids prefer chocolate and others prefer vanilla – it’s all about personal identity.

  4. FACT 7 (the BIGGIE)

    MNAT lied to become eToys Debtors counsel (hiding both Bain and Goldman Sachs issues, during the March 7, 2001 bankruptcy of eToys 01-706 {DE BK 2001})

    Traub’s TBF also lied about Wells Fargo, Bain, Playco, Goldman Sachs, Michael Glazer, Romney, Stage Stores, Barry Gold and Kay Bee to become the eToys Creditors counsel.

    The United States Trustee is upon the public docket record testifying that Traub and buddies asked the U.S. Trustee for permission to hand pick an eToys executive to replace yours truly; and that they were told NOT to violate the conflict of interest laws.

    Then MNAT and Paul Traub nominted Barry Gold to be the eToys “wind-down coordinator” in May 2001 (after Traub and Barry Gold formed Asset Disposition Advisors in April 2001).

    My company was titled Collateral Logistics Inc (CLI) and the DE Bankruptcy Court approved CLI to be the “Liquidation Consultant” for eToys.

    It was announced by the Wall Street Journal that Bain/Kay Bee were acquiring eToys for $5.4 million. But I called Joe Pereira and corrected him on the fact that me/CLI forced the sale prices up to the tens of millions of dollars.

    The issue being that

    Romney (from 1999 to 2001) was CEO of Bain when MNAT merged TLCo,, Bain acquired Kay Bee, Stage Stores was in bankruptcy and all those parties

    MNAT as eToys Debtors counsel
    Traub as Creditors counsel
    Barry Gold snuck in as post-petition President/CEO – WITHOUT applying to the DE Bankruptcy Court (= AFTER being forewarned by US Trustee not to do so)
    See parts 18, 19 & 35 of US Trustee Disgorge Motion of TBF for $1.6 million

    http://petters-fraud.com/DisgorgeMotion_TBF_1_6_Million.pdf

  10. The advertisers who are sources for journalists’ incomes, the elite editors who wrote the preznit, use the editors for propaganda purposes:

    Oil companies want you to know they are doing everything in their power to drive the movement towards sustainable energy alternatives, instead of toward the substance that makes them the largest, most profitable, oligopolies in history. When an oil company advertises, we see a white-coated person, presumably a member of science, telling the audience that their employer is contributing billions of dollars to research and innovation in the field of alternative energy. But, unsurprisingly, the numbers don’t back up the chitchat. Do they really think we’re buying this?

    (Fool).

  11. So – it is incontrovertible that

    Romney = Bain = MNAT
    Romney = Bain = Kay Bee = Glazer
    Romney = The Learning Company and MNAT
    Romney = Stage Stores = Glazer = Barry Gold = Paul Traub

    Transitive

    Romney = Bain = MNAT = Glazer/Kay Bee = Barry Gold = Paul Traub

    1. Dredd – would you like to list 10 fair and balanced journalists? Please do not include opinion writers.

  15. The doods and doodettes, who wrote the letter to the White House, are owned or operated by a few for profit corporations.

    Those “for profit journalists” make their money from advertising revenue.

    Here is an example of a citizen journalist who resists the lies of the advertisers who paid the money the “for profit journalists” live on.

  16. Fact 3

    Romney owned Stage Stores that was placed into bankruptcy in mid-2000.

    Jack Bush (of Dallas Texas) was co-director of Stage Stores with Michael Glazer (who was CEO of Kay Bee at that time).

    Stage Store’s Director’s assistant was Barry Gold who hired his long term buddy Paul Traub (firm of Traub Bonacquist & Fox) and Traub got “caught red-handed” not revealing his prior relationships with Barry Gold and Jack Bush.

    This was confessed (in a obfuscating way) by Traub to the court

    http://petters-fraud.com/StageStores_TBF_Supplemental_Affidavit_BarryGold.pdf

  17. randyjet wrote “It says over the last TWO DECADES, which is twenty years by the way, so it is hardly OBAMA’S FAULT”

    The letter stated, “Over the past two decades, public agencies have increasingly prohibited staff,” with the operative word here being “increasingly,” in other words, it has been getting progressively worse over the past twenty years with the current administration being the worst.

    Then the letter goes to state, “Under this administration, even non-defense agencies have asserted in writing their power to prohibit contact with journalists without surveillance.” Note the phrase, “Under this administration,” which clearly excludes all administrations except that of Obama,

    How disingenuous and partisan of you.

  20. We certainly have our Obama cultist here in our midst playing the sad, “Yea but the Republicans..” game. It does preach to the choir.

Comments are closed.