Gulf 'media blackout' triggers journalist fury
Why are government officials still blocking journalists from documenting the Gulf oil spill? What are they hiding, and why is Obama letting it happen?
Fri, Jun 11 2010 at 5:12 AM EST
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CBS, CNN, the New York Times — these are not fringe media outlets. And when Anderson Cooper and Katie Couric complain about press barricades, you know that not only is the rumored media blackout very real, but it is clearly also very serious:
When reports started trickling in a month ago about journalists being prevented from documenting the oil spill by BP contractors and Coast Guard officials, myself and others wrote somewhat incendiary articles about the implied collusion between government officials and BP in keeping the real scope and impact of the oil spill hidden from the American public.
I backed off when, a few days later, President Obama announced his intention to more or less “take over” the operation, forcing BP to be more transparent with its process and offering daily reports to the press from the anointed point person, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen who stated "... the media will have uninhibited access anywhere we're doing operations."
Finally we started seeing more images — the gushing pipe on the sea floor, oil hitting the beaches, dead birds, dolphins swimming through plumes of dispersant — and it seemed like things were sort of back to normal press-wise. Yes, clearly the Gulf spill was a horrible disaster, but at least we had the free press to cover it blow by blow. Right?
But last week that started changing: More blockades. Flyover permits revoked. Photography banned on public beaches. Sick cleanup workers barred from speaking to the press. The restrictions imposed upon journalists been so bad that yesterday both the New York Times and CNN came out strong, calling out the U.S. government for its involvement in interfering with the press:
Journalists struggling to document the impact of the oil rig explosion have repeatedly found themselves turned away from public areas affected by the spill, not only by BP and its contractors, but by local law enforcement, the Coast Guard and government officials.
Today ABC posted a report about harassment of journalists by BP contractors, but Anderson Cooper in his television report made it clear that it was not just BP contractors but federal wildlife officials and national guardsman who were blockading CNN’s media team from filming the oil-soaked birds as they came in off the rescue boats.
This morning I heard a radio interview with documentary filmmaker James Fox who is in the region and who describes how strangely militarized the Gulf operation has become. Any time he approached someone to ask what was going on, he was completely ignored. He managed to get one 15-year-old boy to speak who said ominously, “The media’s not reporting one tenth of what’s going on up there.”
The fact that journalists are not being given access to cover what might possibly the worst environmental disaster in modern history is infuriating indeed. But that’s not what keeps me up at night. It’s this question:
Why would President Obama, a man who was elected on the promise of government transparency, greenlight one of the biggest media blackout operations in U.S. history? What is the administration attempting to hide? What could be SO bad that it would warrant Obama calling in the Coast Guard, the National Guard, local and state sheriffs, even U.S. wildlife officials to keep images of the Gulf spill out of the media?
At first I thought it was because the government was somehow backing for BP, supporting them in their attempt to keep the story from getting out of hand. Now I’m not so sure ...
This afternoon I received a text message sent on a borrowed phone from someone who had recently returned form the cleanup operation. The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here.
I am earnestly attempting to confirm what I was told, and I will be tweeting about my findings on @greendig. If true, it would explain WHY the government won’t let even the New York Times fly over the original site of Deepwater Horizon. And it would also explain why Obama has done a 180 on his policy of government transparency, choosing public deception over political capital.
If you have any theories or tips let me know below in the comments section or on this Facebook page.
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Comments
loganrides
09/27/2011 21:44 PM
This event, although a huge catastrophe, has made a huge stride in companies moving more green. A friend of my is part of a San Jose plumbers group that is now working on getting green certified as plumbers. They are study things like climate control, solar hot water, caring for our water, etc... Some really great ideas that used this event as a springboard to accomplishing. This is a great idea for the city of San Jose, especially since we are so close to the.... More
forresttaft
11/01/2010 18:47 PM
BP is such a joke… they should all be arrested along with the US govt. How long ago did they cap the leak? And how many legitimate claims are still “pending” from damages they suffered back in the beginning of the summer? I happen to know three people that were affected directly by BP’s shady PR tactics and manipulation of our laws, one of whom was a journalist who was almost arrested and charged with felonies for taking pictures of oil covered animals near the coast. Not only is it.... More
Mother Nature's Kid
07/23/2010 10:16 AM
The largest known pocket of subterranean methane gas is under the sea bed in the Gulf of Mexico. The show "Mythbusters" proved that the release of bubbles of methane could easily be behind the loss of numerous planes and ships of Bermuda Triangle fame. When a plane engine encounters a methane bubble, it chokes the oxygen off and the plane drops into the sea. If the bubble hits a ship on the surface, the ship capsizes instantly, even large ships. Since the oil spill, pressure has been.... More
Ciagrim
07/13/2010 07:31 AM
"The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here." Lol and I've got some beach-front property in Indiana to sell you... Give me a break...
frop
07/11/2010 00:00 AM
We're in the dark here. What the hell is going on down there?
Victor Barnes
07/05/2010 17:41 PM
Tell us what was said with the heading "unconfirmed".
Watch how fast we get off track.
About Bush or Obama.
They are all owned.
Grow up and get that.
Now tell us what was said.
Valkyri9
06/25/2010 11:10 AM
Some of your readers do understand you are taking a personal risk by posting any of this information. We appreciate whatever you are able to share.
BS detector
06/20/2010 19:16 PM
This afternoon I received a text message sent on a borrowed phone from someone who had recently returned form the cleanup operation. The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here.
Guest
06/18/2010 21:54 PM
"The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here."
Nice one, jackass.
Whatdaf Bom
06/15/2010 12:35 PM
So, let me get this straight. You're complaining about a media blackout regarding the situation with BP destroying our coastline and wildlife, but yet you feel compelled to do exactly the same thing when you allude to having devastating information regarding possible collusion between Big Oil and the United States Government? Can you not simply state the information that is being alleged by preceding the information with the word alleged? I am not following this line of reasoning on posters.... More
Gabrielle Fox
06/14/2010 02:44 AM
I think that people working with these animals are probably very upset by what they are exposed to and that the media would only be in the way. Being in peoples faces is not always the best answer. We know the wild life is being killed off. Why is it so important to see it?
astein
07/10/2010 14:15 PM
Um because HEARING about something is COMPLETELY different than actually SEEING it. Seeing it makes it "real", so to speak. Hearing about say a car accident for example means very little to the scope of how horrible it may have been. But to SEE it may change your perspective. Jeesh.
Ian Tracy
06/29/2010 16:52 PM
You've got to be kidding me. If you don't know history very well let me remind you of Vietnam. The only reason there was such an outlandish outcry to stop the war was because of it's televised nature. Every day it was in the news. Which is the only reason they are blocking it from happening this time. They don't want us to get to upset and to stand up. there are so many people that still have no idea how bad this is. There are people right here in Florida that don't understand how this.... More
Alex
06/13/2010 22:19 PM
Its impossible yes impossible to evaluate the success or failure of BP's cleanup effort without hard data despite what admiral Allen would claim:
.... More
Pat Henry
06/13/2010 16:20 PM
The US Constitution is GONE, people. MegaCorpGovBiz runs everything now, and you won't squawk as long as they let you park your lard butt in front of the Idiot Box and gobble junk food. They didn't TAKE your rights, you SOLD them.
PsychoticAdvisor
06/13/2010 12:36 PM
Karl, really. If you can't mention it, then don't mention it. If you can, then spill it. I'm not going to follow you around the internets.
Why?
06/13/2010 12:35 PM
and THEN all their ILLEGAL behavior will make sense.
As DESPERATELY PARANOID as 'they' have become in hiding what's really going on, it has to be BIG.
What would be SO BAD they'd resort to the insanity of a media blackout on 'just' a huge oil spill??
Also, why is our own government colluding with BP and ALLOWING the oil to keep spilling and spilling?? Colluding?? Yes!! Why is our own government doing NOTHING to stop the oil, to capture the oil, to deal with this living.... More
Guest
06/13/2010 11:05 AM
The air restrictions under 3000' are perfectly understandable to anyone who has conducted air ops in a congested air space. The local governments are torn, they want people to sympathize (which we do) and support presuring BP and the Feds to provide aid, yet they do not want reporting on spot contamination to spoil their tourism industry which in coastal areas is the mainstay of the economics. I think they would do better to pressure the media into reporting on all the places that are not.... More
Liev Aleo Black
06/13/2010 05:07 AM
nK??
Bill Melater
06/13/2010 00:51 AM
--but you had to go and elect a commie nitwit.
Chuck U.Farley
07/12/2010 23:08 PM
Stop with the superiority complex and I told you so's. I didn't vote for that idiot and I don't vote for the 2 parties that we have. He's not a damned communist and stop parroting the GOP tag lines, moron. Seriously grow up and realize that they are ALL corrupt and don't give 2 s**ts about you.
Alohabunny
06/19/2010 00:13 AM
Dick and George cooked this mess up, and you gave them 8 years to do it.
f tomek
06/21/2010 16:38 PM
Are you totally stupid? The permit was signed by Obama. What, did George stand behind him and hold the pen?
darran
06/16/2010 10:37 AM
bill your a proverbial tithead obamas a commie wow he must also be a member of the taliban then, look people look at you americans as stupid and not able to look at the big picture hell you voted in a tyranical monster in bush but bill. think son dont just let your mouth warble and the **** come out, dont be so tunnled vision dont be and ingnorant dick head
Akoben
06/13/2010 11:00 AM
Yeah, so let's bring back the "capitalist" nitwit. He's an oil guy. He'll fix everything.
DKO
06/13/2010 13:26 PM
Yeah, he wasn't a capitalist, he was just like everyone from both parties for the last 100+yrs, a corporatist/statist/fascist, pick which ever one you want, but capitalist, no.
darran
06/16/2010 10:50 AM
DKO bush and his entire family from his granddad who supplied nazi germany with iron and steel and financed them until it wasnt tenable
bush is a capitalist further he is an extreem liberal capitalist , ( as long as hes making out of it ) the man is a weasle . trouble with america is its me me me me me and to hell with anyone else who resists
look at d trump hes walked into scotland procaiming to be one and has ripped apart an outstanding nature reserve does he need more money.... More
Biosphere Preservation
06/12/2010 23:23 PM
BP is CONTROLLING the MEDIA - How can you know the truth... if the media is being blocked... and people are being arrested for being in possession of a camera?
Judge for yourself... however, be sure it is from a fully informed perspective.
BP & Local & Federal Government are controlling the media... WHY?... What is it that they do NOT WANT US TO SEE/KNOW?
Listen long... there is a LOT of very enlightening info in this broadcast... as well as the source of comments.... More
Luke
06/12/2010 21:16 PM
You can tell us what the message said without claiming that it is true. How about "this is a text message -- treat it like one. meanwhile I'm going to try to confirm it". I hope you are not just grabbing for followers.
Caitlin
06/12/2010 20:19 PM
This is a bizarre article. You tell us how the media can't report on it, and then you shy away from reporting your own source straight from the Gulf.
That is completely hypocritical.
Scott*
06/12/2010 19:25 PM
Since when does a corporation start dictating what is or isn't going to be covered by the media? If it's on public property then it is fair game for anyone to photo. If BP refuses to entertain questions, that's their prerogative. However, the Coast Guard owes the common tax payer answers to what is going on. American's are watching one of their national treasures ruined while they sit in front of their TVs in horror. I blame Obama. I supported him during the election, but he is has.... More
Skeptic
06/12/2010 16:42 PM
"The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here."
I fail to understand why you cannot publish any details on this blog, but you have no problem twittering sound bytes. Why do I feel you are only another self-serving attention whÖre?
Very disappointing indeed.
Sundown
06/12/2010 15:05 PM
So the implication of this blog post is that the first amendment has been revoked. Because that is what it would take for whats being described here to happen.
Strevane
06/12/2010 15:49 PM
So, are you saying that just because the rights to free speech, assembly, and a free press, are still on the books that they are actually in practice? Yikes. What planet have you been living on?
Besides, in case you haven't noticed (and apparently you haven't), the oil spill region of the gulf is officially in the hands of British Petroleum. As has been amply reported by even the mainstream media, our 'rights' don't count there.
areyouserious
06/12/2010 14:20 PM
This is pathetic, Fox-style fear mongering. "The contents of that message were so mind-numbingly horrific that I cannot publish them here."
No, instead go to my TWITTER account. What a pathetic ploy. You are not a journalist.
C.R.
06/12/2010 13:33 PM
This is such a load of crap I don't even know where to start. First off, there's no such thing as a "flyover permit". PERIOD. Guess how I know. That's right, not more than 4 hours ago I returned from the Deepwater Horizon location in my personal aircraft with 3 journalists from Germany. You better fu*king believe they took pictures and video.
Nice job attention whoring with "details you can't publish here" that strangely are somehow more fit for TWITTER. jackass.
Strevane
06/12/2010 14:27 PM
So, how much do you get paid for spreading disinformation on sites like this?
Nice job being 'indignant'. ; )
C.R.
06/12/2010 22:38 PM
the only misinformation here is this bogus "no flight permit". get your facts straight, twitter whore.
C.R.
06/12/2010 22:36 PM
the only misinformation here is this bogus "no flight permit". get your facts straight, twitter whore.
stjohn
06/12/2010 16:16 PM
There is a TFR restricting flights about the spill zone to at or above 3000 feet to allow freedom of movement for government air assets, just like they do with wildfires. Nothing more sinister than that. I'm going to second the Shenanigans.
Jack.Sandman
06/12/2010 12:42 PM
Now we all know who is actually running the Country..
Guest
06/12/2010 01:50 AM
I also was on the cleanup crew we were told not by BP to not speak but the government people. They said we would be charged releasing top secret information. The pictures you get are not 10% of what is really going. I worked on the boats offshore.
Ken Nelson
06/11/2010 19:15 PM
Nevermind that the youtube link you have set for us is not working for me. Might be a glitch, but probably not. Please note that many credible articles are reporting the same thing. It's not paranoia when They really are Trying (failing) to cover their own *****. There is a militaristic theme to all this because, so far as BP and the military are and for quite some time have been in collusion with one another. It's no surprise, except that there are hired "shills" online now, discrediting.... More
Alohabunny
06/19/2010 00:22 AM
BP and the military have 6 billion in outstanding contracts for oil to run the war machine. The US military uses more oil than anyone, and they make sure of that to keep the oil companies, their partners in crime, rich beyond the limits of greed.
The military is complicit in driving the price of oil by squandering it by the tankers full to maintain the high prices.
Bill Andersoot
06/11/2010 15:53 PM
This is one of the most poorly researched, paranoid pieces of crap I've ever read.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/06/admiral-allen-on-tony-ha...
Karoli
06/11/2010 14:08 PM
The fact that the Deepwater Horizon is so close to a munitions dump where live ammunition is scares the hell out of me. Please do try to verify it and keep readers up to date.
