REPORTERS COMMITTEE RAPS REAGAN ADMINISTRATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000200940001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 6, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/25: CIA-RDP90-00806R000200940001-5
STAT EDITOR & PUBLISHER
~;A;'r LE 6 Apri 1 , 1985
>p~! P
Reporters Committee raps Reagan Administra ioio
Says White House policies are causing on s n~eiWW It
media access restrictions on govt.
. The Washington-based Reporters Committee on Free-
dom of the Press has compiled a list of 51 executive actions
the Reagan Adminstration has taken since coming into
office to restrict access to information and limit press
freedom.
The report also states that 25 bills have been submitted
to the current session of Congress which will curtail press
freedoms.
"The Reagan Administration's policies are causing the
most significant media access restrictions on government
information since the end of voluntary censorship in
World War II," stated Jack Landau, executive director of
the committee. More threats are coming. Public apathy is
being read by the Administration and other conservative
press critics as approval for new government censorship
policies."
The Reporters Committee said the Administration is
planning to submit "new restrictive proposals" to Con-
gress such as establishing a "Official Secrets Acts" which
would apply to the press; roll back broad sections of the
Freedom of Information Act dealing with access to in-
formation on law enforcement, organized crime and health
and consumer problems; and end free use of government
information.
The list of executive actions aimed at restricting press
access to government information follows:
EDITORIAL PRIVACY
March 1981
Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci announced
a rule stating that all persons with access to classified
information must submit to lie detecter tests if asked when
the Administration decides to trace news leaks to the
press. Failure to submit will result in adverse employment
action.
May 1981
Any. Gen. William French Smith says he would support
legislation to permit newsroom raids in order to trace leaks
of national security info. This idea was first put forth by
Director Casey at the Central Intelligence Agency. This
would revoke recently enacted law which severely limits
police raids of newsrooms.
August 1981
New York Daily News reported that the CIA said it
would brief reporters going abroad only if reporters would
agree to collect information for the inteligence agency.
December 1981
Justice Dept. enacted regulations removing restrictions
of Carter Administration: allows infiltration of media, poli-
tical and academic groups with approval of Attorney
General if done in the interest of national security.
March 1983
President Reagan announced that all government em-
ployees having access to certain classified information
(SCI-Special Compartmentalized Information) must take
lie detector tests or face adverse job actions. After adverse
publicity, White House agreed to suspend program until
the end of 1984.
March 1983
Department of Justice (DOJ) enacted news regulations
allowing FBI to investigate. infiltrate and monitor domes-
tic groups, including press. based only on suspicion that
such information is necessary to investigate organized
crime or terrorist activities.
October 1983
U.S. Marshal in Athens, Ga., posed as news reporter at
a meeting of an anti-nuclear group to obtain information
about an upcoming public protest.
GOVT. INFORMATION/ACCESS
April 1981
The 1982 budget made drastic cuts in a variety of gov-
ernment reports at a number of agencies. According to the
N. Y. Times, these cuts seemed to be directed principally at
reports involving education, health, urban affairs, labor
and agricultural issues.
May 1981
The 1982 budget cut approximately 60% from the
archival indexing staff of the National Archives. This
mean access to historical information will be delayed for
perhaps years because most of this information, including
the Nixon tapes, has to be indexed and reviewed prior to
release.
January 1982
White House set up new rule that all interviews with
"national media" involving national security matters. i.e.,
foreign affairs and defense. must be approved in advance
by the White House. Administration backed down after
confrontation with White House press corps.
January 1983
In an effort to protect national security and to avoid
embarrassment to the president (such as the "keister"
statement), president orders through aJames Baker memo
that all interviews. except for those with a few officials, be
approved in advance by the White House Communica-
tions office.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/25: CIA-RDP90-00806R000200940001-5