David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “Volusia Sheriff’s Office Leaves News-Journal Off Invitation List to Press Conference” published in The Daytona Beach News Journal on March 5.

The story focuses on Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood who has repeatedly not invited The Daytona Beach News Journal to an important press conference.

According to Cuillier, Chitwood is wrong to blackball a member of the press.

“On the surface, it just seems really petty and contrary to good public policy,” Cuillier said. “The idea is to get information out to the public, and public officials shouldn’t be choosing which news outlets they like and don’t like. And blackballing the ones they don’t like doesn’t serve the public.”

He said Chitwood is actually shutting out the public.

“The press is just a proxy for the people,” Cuillier said. “When they shut out one newspaper, they are shutting out that people and that’s not right.”

Posted: March 9, 2024
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Freedom of Information Project, David Cuillier, Florida, Freedom of the Press