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* Press release…
Salem Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SALM), owner of AM 560 The Answer, announced that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has invited Salem Media journalist Amy Jacobson back to his press briefings in response to a federal lawsuit filed against him and his press secretary.
Jacobson, a longtime Chicago journalist, sued together with her station AM 560 The Answer after the governor barred her from attending press briefings. Jacobson and the station are represented by attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center, a public interest law firm that won the 2018 Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME.
In a letter sent on behalf of the governor, Jacobson “is eligible to participate in the Governor’s press access on the same basis as other journalists … Jacobson may participate fully in the Governor’s press access, including but not limited to press briefings and conferences, to the same extent that any other media is allowed to participate.”
Liberty Justice Center President and co-founder Pat Hughes said the governor’s response to the lawsuit represents a major victory for all Illinoisans who seek to hold their elected officials accountable.
“Gov. Pritzker’s ban on Amy Jacobson was a complete overreach and he’s right to walk it back. The governor may not like when journalists ask tough questions and he may not always agree with their coverage, but Americans have a constitutional right to hold their elected officials accountable. One of the most important ways they do this is through a free and vibrant press,” Hughes said.
I’m told she attended a press conference at the Thompson Center a few days ago.
Up until recently, there were two ways to ask questions of the governor during his daily news media briefings: 1) You could contact one of the pool reporters who were selected by electronic and print reporters and they would ask your question; or 2) You could log in to the state’s Webex page with a password provided by the governor’s press office and submit your question that way. Jacobson was no longer being sent the daily password, which is what the suit was about. But the governor’s press office stopped using the Webex system on June 5th.
*** UPDATE *** I am told that Amy Jacobson is the only reporter at today’s Pritzker press conference. Might wanna click here to watch.
…Adding… It sounds like reporters have texted Jordan Abudayyeh some questions.
…Adding… Jacobson played it straight.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 9:52 am
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well, based on press conferences I’ve seen through the years, you can ask to ask a question, but there is no guarantee that you will be called upon to actually ask it.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 9:55 am
Anyone know why the Press Office stopped using the Webex system?
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 9:59 am
So can any lobbyist attend a press conference now and ask questions? Asking for a friend.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:00 am
“Jacobson was no longer being sent the daily password, which is what the suit was about. But the governor’s press office stopped using the Webex system on June 5th.”
So she’s won the keys to a car that has no engine.
Congratulations??
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:00 am
While Amy Jacobson proved she is a failure at pool reporting, she proves once again making a story about her, she’ll jump in the water feet first.
In the end, it’s like re-arranging the deck chairs to get more sun, Jacobson’s useless questions might need a floatie to stay above water.
Radio personalities are not journalists.
It must be embarrassing for her to try to keep her journalistic credibility when her colleagues rarely see her as a journalist at all.
Jacobson is 1 for 2 in making a story about her. At least this didn’t get her fired.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:05 am
Thanks to the Gov for for deciding not to waste money fighting this meaningless suit.
Now Amy can get back to focusing on the suits that matter to her, swimsuits.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:09 am
==While Amy Jacobson proved she is a failure at pool reporting==
LOL thank you for that one, but I believe it was a hot tub.
Comment by Turner Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:12 am
What is the over/under on the number of days before she uses the word ‘patriots’ in a question to the governor?
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:16 am
It’s a sad day for journalism when fake journos can force their way into these pressers.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:18 am
This was never a quest for fair journalism, it was all about garnering attention for a low rated talk show. In some respects I feel sad that Jacobson’s career has been reduced to this.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:33 am
So Pritzker and his minions learned the hard way, like Donald Trump learned the hardway when he and his minions banned a certain CNN reporter from press conferences? Same result. Can’t wait for all the television and radio screamers to demand passwords and access to future Governor press conferences. Not smart.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:36 am
Never got the “pool” references, then did a google search.
Forget about the protest stunt, people actually consider her a legitimate reporter?
Good to see the pandemic hasn’t dulled the razor-sharp legal arguments of Atsaves, though.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:39 am
===Salem Media journalist Amy Jacobson===
They misspelled “partisan cheerleader.”
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:41 am
=like Donald Trump learned the hardway when he and his minions banned a certain CNN reporter from press conferences=
What exactly is the news outlet that Jacobson is reporting for? If Dick Biondi or Howard Stern decided that they wanted to show up and ask Pritzker questions would we have to give them press credentials? I suppose that Pritzker could go the route of our former governor and just skip these kinds of pressers altogether.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:43 am
47th Ward–
Amen x 1000
Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:43 am
Liberty Justice Center, a billionaire-interest law firm…fixed it for you. No thanks needed.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:44 am
I don’t know who she is and she can’t make me.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 10:51 am
==I suppose that Pritzker could go the route of our former governor and just skip these kinds of pressers altogether.==
Which would include running to the bathroom or the back door immediately once the reporters tried to start asking their questions en masse (a la Blago).
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 12:03 pm
Wise move. All this was doing was giving Amy another reason to play the victim card. And like someone else said, there’s no guarantee hers or indeed anyone’s questions will he answered.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 1:42 pm
The decision to exclude her wasn’t a good look for the Governor or his press secretary. It seemed petty and Trumpish. I’m glad they reconsidered.
Comment by OOO Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 4:28 pm
What does it matter who is at the press briefings, He doesnt answer any questions anyway
Comment by Taxedoutwest Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 5:41 pm
More importantly, here is to Rich and hoping he had a nice peaceful respite for a week away from “2020″.
Comment by Taxedoutwest Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 5:43 pm
= He doesnt answer any questions anyway=
Are we watching the same press conferences. I tuned in this afternoon expecting some sort of a showdown since Jacobson was going to be the only one in attendance. He answered every question. To her credit she seemed a bit more grounded today.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 17, 20 @ 7:16 pm