White House press secretary Josh Earnest said this week that the Obama administration has made the White House and federal agencies "far more accessible and accountable than ever before," in response to complaints lodged in July by a coalition of journalism groups.
Earnest, acknowledging a "healthy, natural tension between journalists and the White House," said in an Aug. 11 written response (PDF) to the groups that increased attention to FOIA requests, protections for whistleblowers, de-classification of national security information, and access to covering private fundraisers with the president were among efforts to boost transparency and aid reporters.
A consortium of 37 journalism organizations including the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of News Editors sent a letter to the president on July 8 decrying two decades of "censorship" through public affairs officers and asking for a directive to federal agencies telling them they are free to answer questions from reporters and the public.
Earnest acknowledged that he didn't expect the press to be "satisfied" with the reforms he outlined. He added: "You wouldn't be doing your important job as professional, independent journalist if you aren't constantly advocating for more access and more transparency."
SPJ, which said it sent a follow-up letter on Aug. 5 after getting no response from the White House, called Earnest's letter a "non-response."
"Typical spin and response through non-response," said SPJ David Cullier, who said Earnest didn't address specific concerns about preventing journalists from gathering information. He added: "We are tired of words and evasion."
The journalism groups in their July letter said PAOs have stymied reporting on the federal government. "Over the past two decades, public agencies have increasingly prohibited staff from communicating with journalists unless they go through public affairs offices or through political appointees," they wrote. "We consider these restrictions a form of censorship -- an attempt to control what the public is allowed to see and hear."
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