Denial of Access

So far in 2020, we've tracked 5 denial of access incidents

Total cases	52

Amid backlash, Department of Defense backs away from new press regulations at Guantánamo Bay

September 9, 2019

New press rules issued at U.S. Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Aug. 28, 2019, would have curtailed journalists' ability …

Media barred from public lead water crisis meeting in New Jersey

September 12, 2019

The news media was barred from attending a public meeting on Newark, New Jersey’s ongoing lead contamination crisis on Aug. …

Wisconsin think tank sues governor for leaving its news service off media advisory list

January 31, 2020

The MacIver Institute for Public Policy, a Wisconsin-based think tank, sued Governor Tony Evers on Aug. 6, 2019, alleging that …

White House suspends correspondent’s press pass, reporter alleges retaliation

August 8, 2019

Brian Karem, a White House correspondent for Playboy and political analyst for CNN, tweeted that beginning on Aug. 5, 2019, …

Little Rock recording ban reversed after outcry from media

August 6, 2019

Two days after the Little Rock Civil Service Commission signed off on a rule allowing the commission to bar anyone …

An order limiting photography outside Arizona appellate courts gets scaled back after criticism

November 19, 2019

The court of appeals in Phoenix, Arizona, issued an order limiting recording and photography outside of the courthouse on June 28, 2019.The order stipulated that, “All types of video recording, photography, including sharing video or live-streaming to social media sites, or other types of broadcasting… are prohibited in any facility during its use as for Court-connected purposes, including building entrances, exits, and adjacent restricted parking areas.”It also added a provision by which individuals could receive permission to record in restricted …

New Mexico settles lawsuit alleging violations of state’s public records law

February 12, 2020

The state of New Mexico agreed to a settlement with the weekly Santa Fe Reporter on June 27, 2019, following …

Reporters removed from Kansas Senate floor, threatened with loss of press passes

June 4, 2019

Journalists were expelled from the Kansas Senate in Topeka after protesters disrupted a Medicaid expansion hearing on May 29, 2019. …

More Incidents

How we track Denials Of Access

Denial of access to government events that are traditionally open or attended by the press and where the denial of access either deprives the public of significant information, appears to be retaliatory, or is done without meaningful justification. Concrete changes in policy or practice to restrict or deny access may also be included in this category.

Denial of access to individuals in some cases, such as where the available space limits the number of journalists allowed to attend or where individuals arguing for access do not meet reasonable standards for credentials, can be seen as meaningful justifications and will not be included.