Update: After hearing robust support for the role of the press from the community and opposition from FAC, SPJ and the local news outlets, the City Council Tuesday, March 4 changed direction. The council voted unanimously to direct staff to eliminate relevant portions of the city’s press policy that had been the source of problems as the mayor rolled out restrictive procedures as part of its implementation.
FAC and the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California wrote the following letter to the Sebastopol City Council to express concerns over the city’s new and restrictive approach to responding to press inquiries, which chills the rights of city staff to share information of public concern and therefore impairs the important work of journalists in keeping the community informed.
News Coverage:
- Sebastopol Times: Why is the city of Sebastopol making it harder for reporters to cover city government? (2/28/2025)
- Press Democrat: Sebastopol’s proposed news media policy sparks criticism from residents, free-press advocates (3/4/2025)
- Press Democrat: PD Editorial: A free press under attack in Washington and Sebastopol (3/4/2025)