November 6, 2019 — The Society of Environmental Journalists joined with the Society of Professional Journalists and 27 other journalism groups in urging members of Congress to address the ongoing issue of censoring and restricting federal employees' communication with journalists.
"It is essential to public welfare and democracy that this issue is addressed. Not allowing experts to speak freely to reporters is authoritarian and keeps sources from explaining a variety of things that are the public's business," the groups say in the letter.
SEJ has long been advocating freedom of speech for scientists, and other government employees relevant to the environmental beat, to share their findings with journalists — without a PIO babysitting and censoring them.
- November 6, 2019, letter to members of Congress from the 29 journalism groups.
- Society of Professional Journalists release of November 6, 2019.
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