CHICAGO (AP) -
Editors and reporters meeting in Chicago raised concerns Wednesday about
what they described as a lack of access and transparency undermining
journalists’ work, several blaming the current White House for setting
standards for secrecy that are spreading nationwide.
Criticism of
President Barack Obama’s administration on the issue of openness in
government came on the last day of a three-day joint convention of the
American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the
Associated Press Photo Managers.
“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,” Brian Carovillano, AP
managing editor for U.S. news, said during a panel discussion.
James Risen, a New
York Times reporter who is facing potential jail time as he battles
government efforts to force him to testify at the trial of a former CIA
officer accused of leaking classified information, also spoke at the
conference. Risen said intense pressure on reporters and their sources is
having a chilling effect on newsgathering.
He spoke of scaring
one source just by going to his home and knocking on the front door.
“He opened the door
and he turned white,” Risen said. “He marches me back through the kitchen
(to a back exit) and said, “’Go out that way.’”
Risen added that
the government appeared to be taking advantage of how the media industry is
off balance amid the growing influence of online news sources and financial
hardships. He asked if the government would have taken such a hard line when
traditional media were on firmer footing decades ago.
“I kind of think
the answer is no,” he said. Media shouldn’t shrink before the challenge,
Risen said, adding, “The only response ... is to do even more aggressive
investigative reporting.”
The AP’s Washington
chief of bureau, Sally Buzbee, said the Obama administration’s efforts to
control information extend even to agencies not directly involved in
intelligence gathering. Some sources, she said, have reportedly been warned
they could be fired for even talking to a reporter.
“Day-to-day
intimidation of sources is also extremely chilling,” she said.
Buzbee said she’s
frequently asked if the Obama administration, when it comes to transparency,
is worse than the administration of President George W. Bush.
“Bush was not
fantastic,” she said. She added, “The (Obama) administration is
significantly worse than previous administrations.”
White House
spokesman 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 a emailed statement.
Some speakers
Wednesday also broached questions of reporters’ safety after recent
beheadings of journalists by Islamic militants.
John Daniszewski,
vice president and senior managing editor for international news at AP, said
organizations that threaten reporters today have more chaotic chains of
command. As a result, he said, militants might act on orders of an immediate
commander rather than a government authority.
“While danger is
nothing new ... there has been a shift,” he said.
Santiago Lyon, AP
vice president and director of photography, added freelancers are also more
prevalent in conflict zones. He said among the questions media groups must
ask about freelancers they are considering relying on is, “Are they bona
fide journalists ... rather than just thrill seekers?”