Barriers to news coverage of Gulf of Mexico oil spill remain despite promises

[highplainsdem]

Source: AP

Barriers to news coverage of Gulf of Mexico oil spill remain despite promises
Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 6:55 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 7:15 PM
The Associated Press


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"We think a lot of the restrictions are way tighter than they need to be," said Michael Oreskes, an AP senior managing editor. "So far, I think the government has done a better job of controlling the flow of information than of controlling the flow of oil in the Gulf."

Oreskes wrote to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Wednesday demanding that President Barack Obama's administration improve media access. Gibbs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among the limitations AP is protesting is a Federal Aviation Administration rule barring aircraft from flying low enough to observe and photograph coastal impact and cleanup. The limit is set at 3,000 feet for planes, and appears to have recently been lowered to 1,500 feet for helicopters. Before the restriction was imposed, aircraft carrying members of the media routinely flew between 500 and 1,000 feet without incident.

The letter points out that while Allen's letter promised more transparency, several incidents since then have violated his order:

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Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/06/barriers_to_news_coverage_of_g.html

[Downwinder]

1. A reporter is just going to have to say, "So, arrest me."

[noamnety]

2. sadly, it probably will take that. (nt)

[Iowa]

3. Yep. And Obama will bury that reporter if he can - just like he does with whistle-blowers...

[Kolesar]

4. really? eom

[BeFree]

5. Likely n/t

[FLPanhandle]

6. ?better job of controlling the flow of information than of controlling the flow of oil"

THAT I agree with!

[zonkers]

7. BP owns us. We need total transparency.