http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-937478.mp3
Macomb, IL – The panelists discuss a decision by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to invite only certain reporters to a briefing about funding for higher education.
Nixon told the invited reporters that he plans to recommend substantial cuts to higher education funding and will also try to prevent colleges and universities from increasing tuition to make up for the loss of state revenue.
The administration claims the meeting was just a briefing to provide background, yet the AP (which was invited to attend) ran a story about it the next day.
Panelists Mike Murray and Rich Egger feel Nixon was wrong to exclude a number of news organizations from the meeting. They believe there would be an uproar if, for example, the White House did something similar by choosing to invite certain news organizations to cover a presidential briefing while preventing others from covering it.
But panelist Bill Knight believes those who were not invited could obtain the public information from elsewhere and then report on the issue without having the story spoon-fed to them by the administration.
Murray questions why certain reporters were chosen. He would be concerned about being hand-picked by the governor to cover a briefing, thinking Nixon would only invite reporters he knew would not ask difficult questions.