RTDNA Seeks Meeting With Trump on Press Access
The Radio Television Digital News Association and 60 journalism organizations sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence asking for a meeting on news-media access to their administration, RTDNA said in a post on its website.…
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The letter requests a discussion on access to the president's activities, the Freedom of Information Act, and “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 Public Information Officers).” It's “imperative that the incoming administration understand the importance of transparency in government and the cooperative spirit needed in working with the journalists who cover it,” said Mike Cavender, RTDNA executive director, in the posting. “Information-control practices have gone too far and must be curtailed for the good of our democracy and reputation in the world,” said the letter. The journalism organizations “would be happy to send a delegation to Washington, D.C., to have this discussion, or we invite Mr. Pence to meet with us the next time he is back in his hometown, which is also home of the Society of Professional Journalists’ national headquarters,” the letter said. The organization sent a similar letter to the White House in 2015, during the Obama administration (see 1508120028). The Trump transition team didn't comment.