The R.I. Press Association stands for press freedom

The Rhode Island Press Association stands with groups across this country against escalating attempts by President Trump and others in the U.S. government to attack press freedom and diminish those who do this important work.

As Society of Professional Journalists Executive Director Caroline Hendrie put it, “What we say, and what we refuse to say, signals to the world how much we value human rights and free expression. When U.S. leaders downplay the murder of a journalist or shame reporters for demanding transparency, it reverberates far beyond Washington.”

“It is simply not acceptable for anyone in our government to take the side of someone U.S. Intelligence and international bodies held responsible for the murder of a journalist, while demeaning those who would question that person about it,” said the R.I. Press Association Executive Board in a statement. “Nor is it OK to hurl derogatory names at any reporter simply for asking legitimate questions.”

Added the board, “Our members understand that the primary way to win back trust in the journalism profession is to do excellent journalistic work, and part of the job of journalists is to hold those in power to account.”