Tara’s Takes
Here we go again. I am starting to feel like a broken record. According to the Constitution, the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It’s pretty straight forward. It’s pretty important. Important enough that our founding fathers felt it should be the First Amendment. Then explain to me why, once again, we are fighting for Freedom of the Press.
To put it in the simplest terms, Freedom of the Press protects the media’s right to publish information and ideas. To expound, the press is the watchdog. The ones that are sitting at council meetings while you’re enjoying dinner with your family. The ones that are asking the tough questions and walking the fine line of making sure they are reporting and keeping open communication with all those they have to work with.
But once again, in a land far away (Washington, DC), those rights are being restricted.
I’ve written on this before, which is why it makes me so mad to have to write it again.
President Trump has restricted the White House press corps from the press secretary’s office. This is just the latest move to limit media access. The new rule says journalists cannot access what is known as the “Upper Press” office space, where the white House press secretary Karoline Leavitt works, “without an appointment.”
You may be asking yourselves, how is that bad, just make an appointment. It’s simple. If you don’t want to deal with the media, even as press secretary, or have to answer tough questions, you just don’t take appointments.
The area has been accessible to White House correspondents for decades. This supports a free flow of information between the president and the public. The White House has explained that it is for security purposes.
The White House Correspondent’s Association, which represents hundreds of credentialed reporters, unequivocally opposed the effort to limit journalists.
“The new restrictions hinder the press corps’ ability to question officials, ensure transparency and hold the government accountable, to the detriment of the American public,” the association said.
I understand making sure our nation’s security is protected. However, these are credentialed journalists, not someone walking in off the street. Anytime news and decisions are hidden from the press, they are hidden from the public. This is a very scary time. I do not care who the president is who makes this decision, Republican or Democrat, restricting a right that our nation was built on is wrong.
It also has a trickle-down effect. It has already happened at the Pentagon. The new rules for press credentials has led to virtually every major media outlet rejecting the rules and giving up access to the Pentagon.It won’t stop in Washington either. It will spread, and other government entities will follow suit.
Everytime this happens, your rights are restricted. Your access to know what those who you put into power are doing with your taxes, your country, is restricted.
I have a feeling it won’t be the last time I play this broken record. But because I believe in the First Amendment and the importance of local journalism, I will continue to draw attention to any organization that tries to limit it.
