The Republican National Committee announced yesterday they will be charging the press a fee to have access to press booths at the upcoming 2016 Republican National Convention.
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WASHINGTON — Representatives for news organizations who plan to cover next summer’s convention are protesting a move by the Republican National Committee to charge news media organizations a $150 access fee for seats on the press stand.
The press corp fired back in a statement that reads as below:
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PERIODICAL AND DAILY PRESS GALLERIES
We are disappointed in the decision by the Republican National Convention Committee to charge an access fee to cover the 2016 convention. The press, as representatives of the public, should not be charged to cover elected officials at an event of enormous interest to the public.
The convention committee said reporters who don't pay still will be allowed into the arena. But the vantage points they will be given will not allow them to follow convention proceedings, gain access to the convention floor to interview public officials, nor file stories on the event. We are concerned that the proposed fee smacks of forcing the press to pay for newsgathering.
We urge the RNCC to follow the precedent of previous conventions of both parties and drop plans for an access fee so the press can continue to inform the public about a major news event.
Heather Rothman, chair, Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents
Jonathan D. Salant, chair, Standing Committee of Correspondents
For those have forgotten,
in 2012, the Mitt Romney campaign charged reporters to attend their "victory party" on election night.