These trends don’t just hamper media coverage. They also insulate future leaders from difficult questions and thorny issues. Above all, they harm voters by leaving them less informed.
Both sides deserve criticism on this front, but the worst offenders, by far, come from the MAGA wing of the GOP. Sarah Palin, former governor and running mate, has not announced any public events in Alaska between a rally former President Donald Trump headlined for her in Anchorage on July 9 and the special election that took place. took place on Tuesday. In Pennsylvania, gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano’s campaign physically barred reporters from entering events. Other candidates, such as Herschel Walker, a US Senate candidate from Georgia, have also been extremely unavailable.
The Florida GOP recently barred many independent reporters, including the Post, from covering the party’s Sunshine Summit — which was previously open to media — while allowing media deemed sufficiently favorable. When reporters complained, Governor Ron DeSantis’ spokeswoman tweeted, “My message to them is try to cry about this.” The Governor of Florida has come up with new techniques to prevent journalists from doing their job. He gave Fox News, for example, exclusive access to a bill signature.
On Friday, DeSantis is due to travel to Ohio to meet with Republican Senate candidate JD Vance. The event’s organizers, a conservative nonprofit called Turning Point Action, require journalists who request credentials to agree to give the organizers access to any footage they record and be prepared to answer questions about how they will be used. Journalists in attendance are not permitted to record speakers, staff and attendees who do not wish to be filmed and to enter certain areas of the event. They are also prohibited from recording anything displayed on the projection screens.
To apply for accreditation, reporters must agree to terms that state, “Turning Point Action will have the final say on all matters.” A spokesperson for Turning Point Action said the group frequently waives “certain clauses for legitimate news organizations that cover the event in good faith, as we have offered to do with Washington Post reporters for events. in question”.
It’s a start, but these highly unusual conditions have caused understandable outrage among Ohio television stations. Media organizations record these events for the benefit of voters, as well as for history. They should be allowed to do their job unhindered.
