Condemn the White House’s suppression of reporters

On February 24, the White House barred reporters from the New York Times, CNN, Politico, and other news outlets from attending a daily briefing in Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s office; these briefings are normally open to all credentialed reporters.

Call script:

I am [name] from [address and zip code] and I’m calling to ask [elected representative] to join me in condemning the White House’s move to bar some credentialed journalists from respected news organizations from attending White House press briefings. This attack on a free press and on democracy itself is unprecedented and unacceptable. Americans have a right to the transparency in government that only a free press can provide.

Letter:

Dear ____________________,

I write to ask you to publicly condemn the White House’s restriction of credentialed journalists from the New York Times, CNN, and other respected news organizations. This censorship is frankly un-American: a free press is indispensable to a healthy democracy.

The press has always served an important role in the political life of the United States by providing a forum for the vigorous debate that hones our ideas, refines our positions, and enables us to find common ground. Additionally, the reliable, accurate work of professional reporters fosters understanding between the electorate and the elected. Finally, the press plays a crucial role in assuring the government transparency that the American public deserves and demands.

These functions of the press are all essential to a healthy republic. Countries that censor journalism include Myanmar, Iran, Cuba, China, North Korea — not the United States of America.

The White House’s unprecedented restriction of the press is an attack on democracy itself. Please join me in most emphatically and indignantly rejecting such suppression.

Sincerely,

____________________