These are things I have heard public information officers from federal science agencies say in the last year or so.
Silencing Dissidents
---A PIO said a reporter had asked for an interview with a particular person in the agency, but the agency probably would not allow it. One reason was that the source person might want to make a case for the worth of his particular program in the agency, for budget purposes.
Comment: Dear American public: Don’t ever, ever allow public officials to keep disgruntled staff opinions away from you. Those miffed folks have often been invaluable in telling us what is happening to us.
Blocking the “Wrong” Expert
---Another PIO said in a public meeting that in media interviews he allows the scientists to talk about science and the policy experts to talk about policy, but he doesn’t allow either to talk about the other area.
Comment: Can any of us imagine how much is silenced forever by people in power deciding who can speak about what? People with eyes and ears and a brain can’t tell us anything?
Congress shall make no law….
---Also, in a public meeting, a PIO said that in “media training” of agency experts she told them that yes, they have First Amendment rights, but they can still get in trouble within the agency for saying something.
Comment: When did agencies decide the public wanted them to ignore the First Amendment? How is it anything but irresponsible for the press and the public to trust a few people in an agency who use their power silence everyone else?
Silencing Dissidents
---A PIO said a reporter had asked for an interview with a particular person in the agency, but the agency probably would not allow it. One reason was that the source person might want to make a case for the worth of his particular program in the agency, for budget purposes.
Comment: Dear American public: Don’t ever, ever allow public officials to keep disgruntled staff opinions away from you. Those miffed folks have often been invaluable in telling us what is happening to us.
Blocking the “Wrong” Expert
---Another PIO said in a public meeting that in media interviews he allows the scientists to talk about science and the policy experts to talk about policy, but he doesn’t allow either to talk about the other area.
Comment: Can any of us imagine how much is silenced forever by people in power deciding who can speak about what? People with eyes and ears and a brain can’t tell us anything?
Congress shall make no law….
---Also, in a public meeting, a PIO said that in “media training” of agency experts she told them that yes, they have First Amendment rights, but they can still get in trouble within the agency for saying something.
Comment: When did agencies decide the public wanted them to ignore the First Amendment? How is it anything but irresponsible for the press and the public to trust a few people in an agency who use their power silence everyone else?
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