For immediate release: April 28, 2021
Contact: Kathryn Foxhall
kfoxhall@verizon.net
Washington, D.C. – The Society of Professional Journalists has long worked to improve the access of reporters to officials within government agencies, in particular the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Washington, D.C. Professional Chapter of SPJ recently reached out to new CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, urging her agency to grant greater access within the agency to reporters. The SPJ chapter is encouraged by Walensky’s initial response and believes this topic requires further dialogue.
SPJ-DC wrote to Walensky in February, stating that “restrictions on staff speaking to reporters without notifying authorities amount to a human rights abuse, withholding critical perspective from the public and from health professionals. In the case of the national emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, restricting journalists’ access to vital information collected for the public has cost lives unnecessarily and has created untold health consequences for many of those who have managed to survive.”
Walensky has responded to SPJ-DC in an encouraging manner, indicating that CDC shares SPJ’s desire for openness.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to a culture of openness that values the free exchange of ideas, data, and information as part of scientific and technical inquiry,” Walensky wrote. “I am committed to these values. We strive to provide science-based, transparent, accurate, and timely information to the media, as well as through our website, social media channels, and other communication mechanisms.”
“CDC scientists and researchers communicate with members of the press about their work. However, CDC experts are working scientists and are not always available for interviews. Our press officers serve as points of contacts for news media to provide relevant background information and to ensure questions are answered in a timely manner,” Walensky said. “CDC will continue to deliver to the public the best, most accurate, and trusted public health information.”
Although SPJ-DC is concerned that Walensky reiterated her desire for public information officers within CDC to continue to control access to scientists and officials within the agency, the journalism organization welcomes this response from Walensky.
SPJ-DC looks forward to having an on-going dialogue with Walensky and other officials at CDC about the important issues of reporters’ access and the public’s right to know.
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