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.
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| The Irony ...the protectors of Marxist President...turnabout NOT fair play....ah - huh |
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
List of groups
Washington Examiner Article
http://washingtonexaminer.com/censorship-38-journalism-groups-slam-obamas-politically-driven-http://washingtonexaminer.com/censorship-38-journalism-groups-slam-obamas-politically-driven-suppression-of-news/article/2550647
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