Chairmen React to New Media Policy at Department of Commerce
(Washington, DC) – Today, House Committee on Science & Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), and Subcommittee Chairmen Brad Miller (D-NC) and Nick Lampson (D-TX) released a letter raising reservations regarding the new media policy released yesterday by the Department of Commerce.
“This policy was much needed and marks a step forward for the Department. However, I have some reservations about the fundamental lack of assurances regarding an employee’s right to voice their personal views without fear of reprisals and without getting those views pre-approved,” Gordon said. “So, I see some places where the policy could improve further and I hope the Secretary will consider those changes.”
On March 28, the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee chaired by Mr. Miller held a hearing that included testimony from the Government Accountability Project regarding suppression of media contacts for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate scientists (NOAA is a subsidiary unit of Commerce).
“Given the record of manipulation of media contacts for federal scientists a new policy is overdue. This is a good step, but it doesn’t go far enough,” Miller said reacting to the new policy. “We want a policy that is clearer on free speech rights and assures scientists the right of final approval for their official media materials after public affairs has edited them.”
“The concern lies in how this new policy will be applied, especially because there are vague sections that could easily be used to suppress federal scientists from voicing their opinions and sharing their findings,” said Nick Lampson, Chair of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over NOAA. “We will keep a careful eye on the Department to make sure that does not happen.”
This Department of Commerce comprehensive revision to its media policy marks the first such change since 1983, according to the Department. These changes were adopted in the wake of widespread reports by federal scientists – many at NOAA – of efforts by public affairs officers to censor or block scientists’ contacts with the media. These stories became especially prominent in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as NOAA officials tried to suppress the impression that there was any scientific evidence that more intense hurricanes may be tied to global warming.
NASA adopted a new media policy in March of 2006 after Dr. James Hanson was blocked from interviews with the media. Chairman Gordon and Subcommittee Chairman Miller have recently written to 12 federal agencies to determine what they have done to improve their media policies along the lines of NASA’s revised policy (read the March 15 letter).
A copy of the letter is available here.
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