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””

  1. What is “The Media” in this country and the world in the year 2014? Forty years ago the newsprint media of newspapers and magazines had a large role and there were a number of large newspapers such as: NY Times, Washington Post, Saint Louis Post Dispatch which were owned and operated by single owner families. When the Pentagon Papers scandal unfolded those three newspapers, guided by their respective owners, stood up for free speech, free assembly, right to petition the government for redress of grievances and free press. We could cheer this process on. Right On Brother! Right On!

    Those three families are no longer viable. The NY Times is lame and compliant with the government and was one of the first agents of government to defame Snowden. The Washington Post was sold by the Grahams and is now owned by some guy named Bezos and the Saint Louis Post was sold by the Pulitzers to some Freedom this or that

    Some of the worst defamers of Snowden and Glenn Greenwald were central news commentators on the television networks.

    It is important to read the new book out by Glenn Greenwald, title: No Place To Hide. Try it you’ll like it.

    If truth and freedom has any hope or future in this country and in this world it is on the internet. Blog On Brother! Blog On!

  2. BTW= there’s also mayhem, homicides and murder.

    Marty Lackner was involved in Petters Ponzi and his brother is J. Lackner

    That would be MN Asst US Attorney in charge of criminal division J. Lackner

    But Marty committed suicide (purportedly) 2009

    ———————————————–

    EToys shareholder Robert Alber was threatened to be killed and then attacked and hand to shoot/kill Michael Sesseyoff in 2010.

    ———————————————-

    John (Jack) Wheeler walked into the Nemours Building on New Years Eve and then wound up dead in a dump.

    The Nemours Building houses the USA’s office and Colm Connolly’s

    Colm Connolly (after I posted a story looking for clues) then announces the killer left the state and he is posting a $25,000 reward for information

  3. Laughing my butt off watching Dredd and LaserD illustrate a key point in Mr Turley’s article:

    “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.”

    Classic! Exactly as scripted by the White House!

    All hail Emperor Obama!!

  5. LDL, I must conclude you are AI or a govt. identity designed to off track information unless you can actually address the actual letter. Your posts are the very form of information suppression by changing the subject and completely ignoring the actual information presented.

  6. Rolling Stone sold out Taibbi (who is no longer there) and successfully helped protect Biden’s “Deal”aware from being exposed for massive corruption.

    RS got to interview both Biden and Obama;
    and Taibbi got the shaft.

    Matt missed such simple things as Glazer being at both Kay Bee & Stage Stores; because RS General Counsel and Editors refused to publish the whole story.

  8. LDL, Are you able to respond to the actual story that JT wrote about? What do you think of the letter? Are you AI?

    1. Jill – Laser has his own problems. He is involved in a complex lawsuit that is getting stopped at every turn. I think he is venting today. 🙂

  9. This guy Mitt stole the last GOP nomination and will do it again;
    because they are doing this all in the open and NO ONE cares….

    Even this realm refuses to tell what is obviously a prize winning story

  10. LDL, Are you one of the programs of the military? I wondered if you were willing to address the actual topic of this post? Would you tell us what you think of the letter?

  11. Paul Traub was also partners with Tom Petters Ponzi and Marc Dreier and Larry Reynolds (who launder $12 billion while in Witness PRotection) and Frank Vennes.

    Tom Petters attorney (the Kelley Wolter firm) became the Federal Receiver over Tom Petters Ponzi assets (I kid you not)

    Read James Merriner (former Editor Chicago paper)
    http://www.jamesmerriner.com/ponzi-dot-gov_intro.html

    and Douglas Kelley said Paul Traub was the controller of Petters Ponzi
    http://petters-fraud.com/June2012_DKelley_PaulTraub_Complaint_Lawsuit_PettersFraud.pdf

  13. Under Bush, his administration planted no fewer than 212 false stories about WMD’s in Iraq. Manipulation of the press is definitely a bi-partisan state of affairs and will absolutely continue under another Republican president. I see no reason to think Romney would not have done this should he have been elected. Now to address current reality.

    The current administration, in this case, Democratic president, Obama, has been able to silence whistleblowers, drying up information on what is actually happening within the govt.

    Obama has teams of people paid to write opinion pieces which pose as news stories as well as actual opinion pieces in major newspapers. He has teams of people who are paid to make blog comments, FB and twitter posts on his behalf. The military has one person posting as 10 identities on social media.

    As in Canada, where local weather persons are unable to comment about global warming, the USG does not allow freely made comments from the employees of the people of the US.

    This leads to a state of affairs which completely undermines a functioning democracy. For a democracy to work at all, citizens need to know what the govt. is doing in our names. We are owed that information. We are owed the right to be truthfully informed. We should not be propagandized which leads us into stupidity and very narrow bandwidths of acceptable ideas/thoughts.

    While I am glad this letter was written I want to see journalists quit relying on administration talking heads for their reporting. There are things to be learned by looking at the money and connection trail. This information does not often come from asking “leaders” questions. It comes from digging.

    Elite journalists seem wholly captured by their love of power and hobnobbing with the powerful. This kind of corruption is sickening. So it will be up to reporters who value our nation, the truth and our democracy more than access to power to be the courageous people we need to bring us actual information.

    Citizens who justify the withholding of information by “their” party leader are doing all citizens, even themselves, real disservice. Citizens also need to clean up their act and start demanding accountability from “their” party. Leader worship is unseemly and unworthy of actual citizens.

    It’s going to take hard work to get through all the mind-control that we experience right now. These are public servants. That information belongs to the people. Remember these things and stand up for them.

  14. Fact 13

    Its not the first time the DOJ has been shaken up by this case;
    because the Deputy DOJ Director of Executive Offices US Trustee

    also resigned too (after I pointed out another $100 million fraud in Kay Bee)

    Here’s Deputy Director Lawrence Friedman’s email promise to me (that I’ve sworn to a dozen times )
    http://petters-fraud.com/lawrence_friedman_email_laser_haas.pdf

    And here’s the DOJ EOUST Press release of Friedman’s resignation quickly
    http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/public_affairs/press/docs/friedman_resignation_4-27-05.htm

  16. The #1 Paul wrote “list 10 fair and balanced journalists”

    There is no such thing, as everyone has a bias, not to mention that the phrase “fair and balanced” is Fox News propaganda. But that’s not the problem, as one can read from a variety of sources and discern the truth. The problem is that almost everyone only reads sources which confirm their preconceived notions. That’s why I read online sources from all over the world: Der Spiegel, BBC News, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Deutsche Welle, C-SPAN2 Book TV, the Telegraph (UK), Parameters (U.S. Army War College), CBS News, Reuters, LA Times, GlobalPost, and Fox News. The bias pretty much balances out.

  17. FACT 11

    I reported the obvious federal venality to the Public Corruption Task Force in Los Angels (being assisted by a federal justice’s clerk to utilize 18 U.S.C. $ 3057(a) that commands Judges to Notify & Refer crimes to US Attorney {but that would have meant “officially” notifying Colm Connolly who would have had to have recused himself})

    My report was December 7, 2007 and the justice informed me of the official form, to white out CA (but not all the way) when I put in DE up top right. And to get each and every page time stamped/clocked.
    http://petters-fraud.com/Clocked_18_USC_3057_A.pdf

  18. Mr Turley
    “What is left the power of personality over principle.”
    = = =
    I think the American 21st Century can be marked as one where winning the “Cult of Personality” is key to being President. Screw morals and principles… Tap dancing Bush to “Yes we can” Obama.

  20. FACT 10 – a Super Biggie!

    It took me several years to find proof of these crimes (betrayal of oath to clients – fraud on court by officers of court – Perjury {admitted INTENT of leaving lies to stand before the court 33 times – SEE disgorge motion above parts 18, 19 and 35) –

    Then MNAT partner Colm Connolly became the US Attorney

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