Colorado Press Women (CPW) joined with other organizations committed to the First Amendment right of freedom of speech and the press in signing two statements recently:
CPW was one of 80 groups signing a statement issued March 2 by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) condemning efforts by the Trump administration to vilify the media and undermine its ability to inform the public about official actions and policy. The groups stressed that the administration’s attacks on the press pose a threat to American democracy. The statement cites numerous attempts by the administration to penalize and intimidate the press for coverage the President dislikes, including refusing to answer questions from certain reports, falsely charging the media with cover-ups and manipulation of news, denying certain media outlets access to press briefings and even labeling mainstream media outlets as “the opposition party” and the “enemy of the American people.” Read statement here.
CPW joined the Society of Professional Journalists and 60 other journalism groups to send a letter on Jan. 18 to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, requesting a meeting or conference call to discuss the ability of reporters to directly interact with government employees who are subject matter experts, rather than interacting with Public Information Officers (or having all conversations monitored by PIOs); to directly access the activities of the President; and to ensure that the Federal Freedom of Information Act remains as strong as possible. This letter follows a letter sent July 8, 2014 to the Obama administration that CPW also signed, along with a follow-up letter in September, 2016.
