The Society of Professional Journalists and dozens of its chapters across the country today joined the Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom organizations in calling on the Trump administration to restore the Associated Press’s access to White House events and honor its commitment to freedom of expression.
The statement comes as the AP is waging a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the news agency from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other White House press pool events. At issue is AP’s continued use of the longstanding name of “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America,” as President Trump has renamed it.
“AP provides essential reporting that is published by thousands of outlets across the United States and around the world, helping to keep millions informed on matters of national and international importance,” says the joint statement. “U.S. newspapers, radio stations, and television broadcasters rely heavily on the AP’s copy to deliver news to local communities. Barring AP effectively removes these media outlets’ ability to deliver the news to the groups they serve.”
The joint statement comes as the administration announced that it would take control of determining which news outlets take part in the rotating “press pool” of reporters who provide daily coverage of presidential events to a larger group of journalists. Selecting journalists for the press pool has long been the responsibility of the White House Correspondents Association in an arrangement seen as preserving press independence from administration control.
“Limiting AP’s access to media pool events because of the news agency’s editorial and style decisions stifles freedom of speech and violates the First Amendment,” today’s statement says. “News organizations should be allowed to make editorial decisions without fear of retaliation from government officials.”
The Chicago Headline Club is proud to stand with the Society of Professional Journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom organizations in requesting the Trump administration to restore the Associated Press’s access to White House events.
The Chicago Headline Club is a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Please see the letter our chapter signed below along with other journalism organizations.
Thank you
Michael Puente
President
Chicago Headline Club