Press Release, Society of Professional Journalists; The Associated Press earns SPJ Ethics in Journalism Award for ‘ethical courage’ to resist government interference
"The Society of Professional Journalists is bestowing its Ethics in Journalism Award on The Associated Press for refusing to allow the White House to dictate its coverage while continuing to produce accurate and ethical reporting of the Trump administration, despite being denied access to presidential events.
The 28-year-old award honors journalists and news organizations that perform in an outstanding ethical manner, demonstrating the ideals of the SPJ Code of Ethics.
The Trump administration first banned two AP reporters from White House events in February because the AP did not update its guidance to abide by President Trump’s executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Trump wanted the AP, a global, nonpartisan news agency whose AP Stylebook is widely used in the industry, to use his preferred term. While not calling the body of water the Gulf of America, AP’s guidance is to acknowledge the new name Trump has chosen.
In response, the AP sued three Trump administration officials. Over the past two months, AP has been barred from the White House press pool and other official events.
“In the face of direct political pressure, The Associated Press held the line for ethical journalism,” said Emily Bloch, SPJ national president. “Rather than compromise its editorial independence by backing down, AP stayed true to its principles and continued serving the public with unbiased reporting. That is the very definition of ethical courage.”
AP White House reporters continued to RSVP to presidential events and showed up, only to be turned away, according to The Washington Post. AP relied on pool reports and video transcripts to continue its coverage of the Trump administration. It also has flown in correspondents based in other countries who were allowed to cover certain presidential events as members of foreign press pools.
U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden last week ruled in favor of the AP, saying that the Trump administration cannot retaliate against a news organization based on its viewpoint. Despite the order, an AP reporter was barred from an Oval Office news conference on Monday, the day the order was to take effect.
AP earned the award because it continues to be steadfast in its refusal to be controlled by the government and for standing on its principles and well-known reputation for high ethical standards, which are consistent with the SPJ Code of Ethics."
