Top News Editors Slam White House for Secrecy, Intimidation
Obama administration "significantly worse than previous administrations"
Some of the nation's top journalists are criticizing the White House for undermining journalism through lack of transparency and intimidation of sources, which they say has only gotten worse under President Barack Obama--the self-proclaimed "most transparent" president in history.
Criticism of Obama's administration on the issue arose during a joint convention this week of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers in Chicago. Brian Carovillano, Associated Press managing editor for U.S. news, said during a panel discussion that the government's increasingly tightening standards on access to information are setting a trend for secrecy for other organizations around the country.
"The White House push to limit access and reduce transparency has essentially served as the secrecy road map for all kinds of organizations--from local and state governments to universities and even sporting events," Carovillano said.
This is not the first time this year that reporters have accused Obama of secrecy and suppression of information, charges which seem more significant against an administration that has described itself as the "most transparent" in history. In July, more than 40 news organizations sent the President a letter urging him and other federal agencies to "stop the spin and let the sunshine in."
In response, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration had "absolutely" lived up to its pledge of making government information available to the public and the media.
Recent years have also seen journalists decrying the lack of cooperation by government agencies who receive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, despite a memorandum issued during Obama's first term that called on all federal officials to comply with new disclosure initiatives. In March, an AP analysis of government data revealed that the administration has grown more secretive over time.
James Risen, a New York Times writer who is facing jail time for his refusal to expose an anonymous whistleblower in his reporting on national security, also criticized the White House for intimidation of sources. Other journalists agreed with the charge.
AP's Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee said some individuals working in government have allegedly been warned they could be fired for talking to the media, adding, "Day-to-day intimidation of sources is also extremely chilling."
According to Buzbee, the increased restrictions on information sharing in the White House have even extended to agencies that are not part of the intelligence gathering community--and the grip has only gotten stronger under Obama.
"Bush was not fantastic," she said. "The (Obama) administration is significantly worse than previous administrations."
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Obama is committed to transparency.
"Over the past six years, federal agencies have gone to great efforts to make government more transparent and more accessible than ever, to provide people with information that they can use in their daily lives, and to solicit public participation in government decision-making and thus tap the expertise that resides outside of government," Schultz said.
In March, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill that would require federal agencies to update their FOIA regulations within 180 days. The bill has yet to go before the Senate.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Some of the nation's top journalists are criticizing the White House for undermining journalism through lack of transparency and intimidation of sources, which they say has only gotten worse under President Barack Obama--the self-proclaimed "most transparent" president in history.
Criticism of Obama's administration on the issue arose during a joint convention this week of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers in Chicago. Brian Carovillano, Associated Press managing editor for U.S. news, said during a panel discussion that the government's increasingly tightening standards on access to information are setting a trend for secrecy for other organizations around the country.
"The White House push to limit access and reduce transparency has essentially served as the secrecy road map for all kinds of organizations--from local and state governments to universities and even sporting events," Carovillano said.
This is not the first time this year that reporters have accused Obama of secrecy and suppression of information, charges which seem more significant against an administration that has described itself as the "most transparent" in history. In July, more than 40 news organizations sent the President a letter urging him and other federal agencies to "stop the spin and let the sunshine in."
In response, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration had "absolutely" lived up to its pledge of making government information available to the public and the media.
Recent years have also seen journalists decrying the lack of cooperation by government agencies who receive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, despite a memorandum issued during Obama's first term that called on all federal officials to comply with new disclosure initiatives. In March, an AP analysis of government data revealed that the administration has grown more secretive over time.
James Risen, a New York Times writer who is facing jail time for his refusal to expose an anonymous whistleblower in his reporting on national security, also criticized the White House for intimidation of sources. Other journalists agreed with the charge.
AP's Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee said some individuals working in government have allegedly been warned they could be fired for talking to the media, adding, "Day-to-day intimidation of sources is also extremely chilling."
According to Buzbee, the increased restrictions on information sharing in the White House have even extended to agencies that are not part of the intelligence gathering community--and the grip has only gotten stronger under Obama.
"Bush was not fantastic," she said. "The (Obama) administration is significantly worse than previous administrations."
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Obama is committed to transparency.
"Over the past six years, federal agencies have gone to great efforts to make government more transparent and more accessible than ever, to provide people with information that they can use in their daily lives, and to solicit public participation in government decision-making and thus tap the expertise that resides outside of government," Schultz said.
In March, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill that would require federal agencies to update their FOIA regulations within 180 days. The bill has yet to go before the Senate.
Some of the nation's top journalists are criticizing the White House for undermining journalism through lack of transparency and intimidation of sources, which they say has only gotten worse under President Barack Obama--the self-proclaimed "most transparent" president in history.
Criticism of Obama's administration on the issue arose during a joint convention this week of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers in Chicago. Brian Carovillano, Associated Press managing editor for U.S. news, said during a panel discussion that the government's increasingly tightening standards on access to information are setting a trend for secrecy for other organizations around the country.
"The White House push to limit access and reduce transparency has essentially served as the secrecy road map for all kinds of organizations--from local and state governments to universities and even sporting events," Carovillano said.
This is not the first time this year that reporters have accused Obama of secrecy and suppression of information, charges which seem more significant against an administration that has described itself as the "most transparent" in history. In July, more than 40 news organizations sent the President a letter urging him and other federal agencies to "stop the spin and let the sunshine in."
In response, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration had "absolutely" lived up to its pledge of making government information available to the public and the media.
Recent years have also seen journalists decrying the lack of cooperation by government agencies who receive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, despite a memorandum issued during Obama's first term that called on all federal officials to comply with new disclosure initiatives. In March, an AP analysis of government data revealed that the administration has grown more secretive over time.
James Risen, a New York Times writer who is facing jail time for his refusal to expose an anonymous whistleblower in his reporting on national security, also criticized the White House for intimidation of sources. Other journalists agreed with the charge.
AP's Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee said some individuals working in government have allegedly been warned they could be fired for talking to the media, adding, "Day-to-day intimidation of sources is also extremely chilling."
According to Buzbee, the increased restrictions on information sharing in the White House have even extended to agencies that are not part of the intelligence gathering community--and the grip has only gotten stronger under Obama.
"Bush was not fantastic," she said. "The (Obama) administration is significantly worse than previous administrations."
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Obama is committed to transparency.
"Over the past six years, federal agencies have gone to great efforts to make government more transparent and more accessible than ever, to provide people with information that they can use in their daily lives, and to solicit public participation in government decision-making and thus tap the expertise that resides outside of government," Schultz said.
In March, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill that would require federal agencies to update their FOIA regulations within 180 days. The bill has yet to go before the Senate.