June 28, 2004: New Media Policy at NOAA Restricts Scientists’ Access to Media

Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), officially implements a new NOAA-wide media policy. The new policy, written by NOAA Public Affairs Director Jordan St. John, government lawyers, and Commerce Department policymakers, gives the NOAA’s public affairs offices ultimate authority over all agency communications. [Raw Story, 10/4/2005; Union of Concern Scientists and Government Accountability Project, 1/30/2007, pp. 31 ; Maassarani, 3/27/2007, pp. 10 ] The media policy will become more restrictive after Hurricane Katrina (see September 29, 2005).