Journalists Banned…Again

Posted on July 12, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized |

By Lauren Keane-Farrell

A month ago, National Incident Commander Thad Allen issued an order granting the media “uninhibited access” to the areas affected by the oil spill. On July 4th, Daniel Tencer at The Raw Story reported the Coast Guard has banned reporters from the cleanup areas.

Journalists who come too close to the oil spill without permission from the Coast Guard could find themselves facing a $40,000 fine and even one to five years in prison.

This move has outraged journalists and bystanders alike, who see it as an attack on their First Amendment rights.

The Coast Guard order states that “vessels must not come within 20 meters of booming operations, boom, or oil spill response operations under penalty of law.”

Back in June, Allen told ABC News reporters that “media will have uninhibited access anywhere we’re doing operations, except for two things, if it’s a security or safety problem.”

Edward Stanton, the current Coast Guard Captain in New Orleans, told MKRW News that nine out of 10 times the reporter will be granted access.

This isn’t the first time reporters have had to jump through hoops to obtain their story. For weeks they’ve been complaining about BP, the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard.

Anderson Cooper, of CNN, describes the new rules as making it “very easy to hide incompetence or failure.”

Makes you wonder if BP “reporters” will have the same restrictions placed on them.

Share and Enjoy: