Latest BP Press Access Denial
June 14, 2010 2:46 pm ET by Joe Strupp
WDSU-TV of New Orleans is the latest media outlet to be denied access to an oil-soaked beach by a BP employee as the gulf oil leak continues.
"Sir, you cannot interview the workers," a BP security person tells the reporter in the video clip below.
This comes a week after the National Incident Commander for the oil spill efforts, Thad Allen, said on ABC's "This Week": "I put out a written directive and I can provide it for the record that says the media will have uninhibited access anywhere we're doing operations, except for two things, if it's a security or safety problem. That is my policy. I'm the national incident commander."
See the WDSU video here:
I didn't really get the guy who was (or wanted to) conduct interviews with BP workers or otherwise contract employees.
Even as he stood there bantering with the security person, I didn't get why he didn't immediately ask "by what authority do you think you can deny me access to this public beach?"
Maybe he did ask that question or something like it, maybe I missed it, but that's question ONE to anyone who thinks they're going to keep you from entering a public building or going onto public property.
And as he started to walk past the security guy, I thought "damn right pal, just go there anyway, the second this unauthorized 'security guard' puts his hands on you, HE's breaking the law, and you've got it on film!"
Anyway, it seemed like the security person knew this too, and can and does say anything as long as you'll stay where you are and instead banter with him, and he'll move around and get in your way, without touching you, as long as you get flustered and otherwise stay where you are... and when the guy did go up to the tent, he was not only all whiny and screechy and complaining, but his cameraman didn't follow him up there...
Investigative Journalism:
Not for the weak or the cowardly, not for people who chatter away nervously when they're in a confrontation, and not for anyone who doesn't know that the only person who can interfere with your legal right to go onto or in any public property, is an authorized law enforcement officer or other public official.