Government Bans Reporters in Gulf

Submitted by Anne Landman on

Oil spill birdsThe U.S. Coast Guard put in place a new rule slapping journalists with felony charges, a $40,000 fine and one to five years in prison for coming too close to oil spill clean-up efforts without permission. Anderson Cooper of CNN says the new rule makes it "very easy to hide incompetence or failure." The Coast Guard rule prohibits vessels from coming within 20 meters (65 feet) of booming operations, boom or oil spill response operations "under penalty of law." But since oil spill cleanup operations are being conducted on most of the beaches, the rule bans reporters from just about everywhere they need to be. The new rule contradicts a statement made by Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen in June, when he promised that "Media will have uninhibited access anywhere we're doing operations, except for two things -- if it's a security or safety problem." Anderson Cooper, commenting on the new rule, said '"Those of us down here trying to accurately show what is happening -- we are not the enemy. I've not heard about any journalist who's disrupted relief efforts; no journalist wants to be seen as having slowed down the cleanup or made things worse. If a Coast Guard official asked me to move, I'd move. But to create a blanket rule that everyone has to stay 65 feet away from boom and boats, that doesn't sound like transparency."

Main Source: 
Raw Story, July 4, 2010
Topics: 
Crisis Management
Journalism
U.S. Government

Comments

tarball replied on

Thursday, June 3, 2010 CAUGHT IN B.P. OIL

http://galvestonbay.blogspot.com/2010/06/caught-in-bp-oil.html

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b8f097d3ec4f9965

Monday, July 5, 2010

B.P. Gulf Oil Spill Tar Balls Hit Texas Beaches Galveston and Bolivar

http://galvestonbay.blogspot.com/2010/07/gulf-oil-spill-tar-balls-hit-texas.html

tarball, aka flounder, alias TSS

Julie Drizin replied on

This is outrageous and semi-Soviet. Americans should be infuriated when government protects corporations or engages in behavior that prevents citizens from knowing what officials are allegedly doing on our behalf. This cannot stand. Ultimately, where there's a will, technology will find a way.

Julie Drizin
@AIRMQ2

Future.Millionaire replied on

I think this is a smart move by the government--banning reporters from the scene so the crisis is not reminded of to the public everyday. Not just smart, but also cunning.

Cheryl Jenna replied on

The people, not just in the affected areas of this accident, has the right to know what is happening through the media. Since we all share the same ocean. Hopefully we'll be able to think of a good and effective solution for this problem, SOON.

Aode Foster replied on

I am still hopeful that this will be Ok. The sooner, the better. For the sake of all the creatures.

wood replied on

Makes you wonder what they are hiding

fritz replied on

if there were such a thing as "adequate' in the mind of the media, then limits might not seem so necessary. As it stands, these keystone cop-acting fools have a remarkably consisitent habit of smothering not only the subject of their attention but their very selves in the process, as well. We need people trying, however unsuccessfully, to bring an end to this chapter of this oil catastrophy vastly more than we need to allow unfettered worksite access to an unlimited number of media who consistently fail to demonstrate human-like behavior. Given the technology of the day, 65 feet seems a more than adequate distance from which to chronicle efforts without getting too much in the way. There is no doubt that we cannot survive without a robust media, but too often these characters are no more than locusts whose product very nearly does not justify the resources they burn in their process.

lpcustom replied on

I'm all about pointing the blame at a bunch of rich people for destroying the environment in the gulf, but the coast guard is undoubtedly looking out for public safety and trying to ensure that the cleanup effort can work without and disruptions. There have probably been many instances where the reporters were in the way. They should be able to report 65 ft away. It's not like they are telling them they can't come within a mile of the cleanup crews.

wzacharias04 replied on

It's a good thing reporters has been banned about this issue.
I am hoping that everything will be better. And it would be much better if
we all help together to solve this.

Marc Giaccardo replied on

I am surprised that SourceWatch would even consider this as an important issue. Beginning to sound like the Tea Bag party and their cries of oppressive government (but only since Obama's election...LOL). It's 65 feet for heavens sake! If you have ever been at an accident scene or other "news worthy" event you know that this perimeter safty zone is absolutely necessry or else the reporters and their tech. support people would be all over the place, getting in the way by accident (to get a really good photo op) and endangering both the crews and themselves. The sound and image equipment is so good today that, from 65 feet the tech folks can hear a whisper and can photograph the wings of a fly. Get over it and focus on BP and the other corporations who are involved. JMJ

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