Jan. 17, 2020 – The NewsGuild-CWA has joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 56 other media organizations in denouncing restrictions on the press during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
The Senate implemented rules this week limiting reporters’ access to lawmakers walking to and from the chamber during the impeachment trial, confining them to pens, limiting video access to a single pool camera with no audio, and adding an extra layer of restrictions on electronics.
The Guild’s Executive Council signed a letter opposing the severe limits on journalists’ ability to report on the proceedings. The statement echoes concerns raised by the Standing Committee of Correspondents in a letter and tweet on Tuesday.
These potential restrictions fail to acknowledge what currently works on Capitol Hill, or the way the American public expects to be able to follow a vital news event about their government in the digital age.
— Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) January 14, 2020
“The NewsGuild is proud to fight for more access for reporters and for the public’s right to know, including in the Senate during an impeachment of the president,” said Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild.