Government Bans Reporters in Gulf

by Anne Landman — July 7, 2010 - 3:02pm
Share/Save Share this

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

Comments

Future

Submitted by Georgina Wells (not verified) on July 11, 2010 - 9:14am.

I wonder if they have plans on how to restore the damages. Wish this will be over.

It is what it is

Submitted by Karla66 (not verified) on July 10, 2010 - 7:57pm.

We all understand that media can be very difficult, however in this situation where EVERYONE knows what is going on, do not make sense to stop the news. we have to think that many of our children are going to be affected for this situation, not just that our planet is already with a lot a contamination and we cannot do ANYTHING, so why hide from the people. Does not make sense.

Ridiculous

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 9, 2010 - 11:29pm.

This is flat out ridiculous that reporters are not allowed near the accident site. Doesn't the world have a right to get the facts and see pictures of the destruction that this disaster has done to our planet! It just goes to show... that when you have enough money - you are basically untouchable.

Crazy!!

Submitted by Will Kemp (not verified) on July 10, 2010 - 7:00pm.

For a country that prides itself on freedom and "Knowing the truth" this is insane. this is certainly a very ugly side of American politics.

20 meter safety ban

Submitted by Marc Giaccardo (not verified) on July 9, 2010 - 11:20pm.

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

It's a good thing reporters

Submitted by wzacharias04 (not verified) on July 9, 2010 - 8:57am.

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.

Safety

Submitted by lpcustom (not verified) on July 8, 2010 - 9:15pm.

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.

media limits

Submitted by fritz (not verified) on July 8, 2010 - 4:06pm.

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.

wood plans

Submitted by wood (not verified) on July 8, 2010 - 3:30pm.

Makes you wonder what they are hiding

Hope

Submitted by Aode Foster (not verified) on July 8, 2010 - 7:25am.

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