by Joe Ulery
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Indiana News Service) - An Indiana journalism professor said the Trump administration’s decision to deny White House access to CNN, MS Now and Politico raises concerns extending beyond Washington.
Reporters for the outlets had their White House press credentials deactivated or confiscated over the weekend and were turned away when they tried to enter.
Kathleen Johnston, professor of practice in The Media School at Indiana University-Bloomington, said limits placed on national outlets could eventually affect local stations and newspapers.
“Today it’s CNN, MS Now, and Politico. Tomorrow it could be them. It could be their local television. It’s just a slippery slope,” Johnston contended. “I don’t think we want to get on this, you know? Look, he’s not the first president that’s tried this.”
The news organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging the restrictions, arguing the administration violated their First Amendment rights. President Donald Trump said he barred the outlets because of coverage he called “fake news.” He said the White House is not attacking a free press and argued news organizations should provide fair and honest coverage.
Johnston spent years in broadcast news, including as a senior investigative producer at CNN and CBS News. She argued journalists should examine criticism of their work and maintain strong standards for fairness and accuracy.
Now, Johnston trains young journalists and stressed they need to remain professional while continuing to press for answers.
“I tell them always to be polite and to be aggressive. They’re trying to find out information to share with the public and that’s who pays their freight,” Johnston explained.
Johnston added journalists do not decide what people should believe. Instead, their responsibility is to provide information and facts, then allow the public to decide what to do with them.