Media Freedom Organisations Warn White House News Ban Sends ‘Very Dangerous Signal Far Beyond Washington’
We are media organisations and press freedom groups representing journalists and publishers across the world.
We condemn the exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House and call on world leaders meeting in New York to make clear to President Trump that a free and plural press is a fundamental pillar of democracy.
Journalists are the eyes and ears of the public. Their access to the heart of government is not because they are entitled to be close to power, but because the public is entitled to independent accounts of how that power is being used.
Governments may impose neutral access rules for reasons such as security or limited space. They must not use access as a reward for favourable coverage or withdraw it as punishment for reporting they don’t like.
The decision sends a very dangerous signal far beyond Washington, particularly to jurisdictions where the media reporting is already heavily controlled by draconian autocratic states.
If such actions carry no cost, leaders in countries where independent media is already under severe pressure will feel emboldened to tighten their control even further.
Press freedom will not be lost in one dramatic act. It is weakened over time by people in power making choices in pursuit of more control. That’s why the decision to ban media outlets from the White House matters for all of us.
World leaders must defend the principle of a free press, regardless of the publications involved.
Access rules may be limited and neutral, but they must never be used to punish journalism and impact the public’s right to know.
The signatories to the statement are:
● Theo Bamber, Chief Executive, News Media Association
● Wout van Wijk, Executive Director, News Media Europe
● Clothilde Redfern, UK Director, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
● Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO, Index on Censorship
● Dawn Alford, Chief Executive, Society of Editors
● Jodie Ginsberg, CEO, Committee to Protect Journalists
● Dieter Loraine, Chairman, Commonwealth Media Freedom Trust
● Stig Ørskov, CEO, World Association of News Publishers