On Feb. 11, the Associated Press was banned from covering White House press events following its decision to keep the terminology “Gulf of Mexico” as is, rather than changing it to “Gulf of America.” This ban is unconstitutional under the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press, and puts journalism at risk.
AP refused to change its rule regarding the Gulf of Mexico because the name change is only officially acknowledged within the United States — “other countries do not have to recognize the name change,” AP said in a statement regarding President Donald Trump’s executive order.
AP is a not-for-profit news agency and “must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
It’s important to note AP’s acknowledgement of “Gulf of America” while maintaining the use of “Gulf of Mexico” in its style guide, which is used by countless newspapers and news outlets worldwide. Enforcing any change to the style guide would directly affect and have to be enforced by every part of the press that uses AP guidelines.
AP sued three White House officials on Feb. 21 for violations of the First Amendment and the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden denied AP’s request to restore access to the White House but encouraged the White House to lift restrictions on AP.
Following McFadden’s refusal, the White House stated that the ability to question the president in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One “is a privilege granted to journalists,” rather than a “legal right.”
A second hearing is scheduled for March 20.
Barring AP from covering White House press events disregards protection of the press under the First Amendment. It’s a breach of access to independent journalism and signals to the public that the Trump administration does not tolerate impartiality in the media.
The White House should not have jurisdiction over how news agencies report related events to the public, especially when the law is meant to directly prohibit government interference in the dissemination and production of news.
According to The New York Times, 40 other news outlets urged the White House in a letter to lift its ban on AP, stating that “the First Amendment prohibits the government from asserting control over how news organizations make editorial decisions.”