"The relationship between politicians and journalists isn't always a comfortable one, but it is essential in a functioning democracy that all parties open themselves up to basic scrutiny. When journalists are blocked from doing their job, it's not just a concern for the media it's a concern for the public. Over the last few years we've seen this increasingly Trumpian approach creep in and not only from Reform politicians where legitimate questions are met with hostility or silence."
"While Reform's treatment of the Nottingham titles has been the highest-profile case of its type, there have been other recent examples of local authorities across the country accused of freezing out journalists. Over the summer, a BBC-funded local democracy reporter (LDR) in London said he had been effectively barred by Conservative-run Hillingdon council, due to what it regarded as political bias in his reporting. It followed a complaint of bias after a story about an allegedly misleading Tory campaign leaflet that claimed a local recreation ground was under threat."
A 150-year-old Nottingham paper and its website, Nottinghamshire Live, have been prevented from speaking to Nottingham county council leader Mick Barton and from receiving updates and press releases. The exclusion exemplifies an increasingly Trumpian approach in which legitimate questions are met with hostility or silence, undermining basic public scrutiny. Other local authorities have been accused of freezing out journalists, including an instance where a BBC-funded local democracy reporter in London was effectively barred by Hillingdon council over alleged political bias following a story about a Tory campaign leaflet. Hillingdon disputed a ban, citing concerns about balance, and has agreed to continue engaging after positive dialogue.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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