The Associated Press issued an advisory late Wednesday that it will not cover tonight's Fox News Republican debate in South Carolina.

The advisory, below, cites media restrictions that “violate basic demands of newsgathering.”

05/04/2011

AP Advisory

GOP Debate, Coverage Advisory

EDITORS:
PHOTO EDITORS:
ONLINE EDITORS:

This is to inform you that The Associated Press is not planning to cover Thursday night's Republican presidential candidate debate in South Carolina because of restrictions placed on media access. The debate sponsors, Fox News Channel and the South Carolina Republican Party, will only allow photos to be taken in the moments ahead of the debate and not during the event itself.

These are restrictions that violate basic demands of newsgathering and differ from other debates where more access was granted. Accordingly, the AP will not staff the event in any format nor will the AP disseminate any pool photos taken by another outlet. This is consistent with longstanding policy exercised in coverage of many events.

Should access conditions change, the AP will reassess this decision and expedite a new coverage advisory if warranted.

The AP