For more than half a century, media organizations have been able to work at the heart of the N.C. General Assembly legislative building — in a workspace across the hall from the press conference room on the building’s ground floor.
Now, Legislative Services Officer Paul Coble, a long-time critic of the media and opponent to the public’s access to the “People’s House,” has decided to move reporters to a smaller space in the basement in the farthest corner of the legislative building, jeopardizing media access to legislative actions, as well as the public’s right to know what the General Assembly is doing.
According to a report by WRAL, the new space for reporters “is 25 percent smaller than their current office, which already is often overflowing with journalists” and the new press room “will be far from the public’s eye, across a darkened parking garage and down a featureless hallway.”
Coble’s deadline to move the media out is Jan 31.
It’s time to contact Coble’s bosses, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Phil Berger, who claim they were not consulted about the change, and let them know how you feel about protecting media access to the legislature’s important work. We’ve made it easy.
Take action now: Tell House Speaker Moore and Senate President Berger to reverse Coble’s plan and keep media access as-is — and send a strong message in favor of legislative transparency and accountability.