Reporters Committee chairman troubled by Trump’s stance toward journalists

Reporters Committee Chairman David Boardman, dean of the School of Media and Communication at Temple University, today issued the following statement:

“The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the nation’s premier organization advocating for the First Amendment rights of journalists, is deeply troubled by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s stance toward journalists covering his campaign. In particular, Mr. Trump’s decision to deny access to his campaign events to reporters from The Washington Post, Politico and other news outlets is an act of blatant disregard for the role of a free press in our electoral process, a role our nation’s founders understood and valued.

“The responsibility of the press is to ask challenging questions of candidates and to fully explore their records, especially when those candidates are running for the most powerful position in the world. For Mr. Trump to challenge that role demonstrates a repudiation of a basic American value. We urge Mr. Trump to rescind this revocation of credentials, and in doing so to express his commitment to the right of the public to the free flow of information.”

About the Reporters Committee

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was founded by leading journalists and media lawyers in 1970 when the nation’s news media faced an unprecedented wave of government subpoenas forcing reporters to name confidential sources. Today it provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. Funded by corporate, foundation and individual contributions, the Reporters Committee serves the nation’s leading news organizations; thousands of reporters, editors, and media lawyers; and many more who use our online and mobile resources. For more information, go to rcfp.org, or follow us on Twitter @rcfp.