While committee members said that it was good, in any event, to get the issue before the public, others disagreed. Detroit Free Press publisher Neal Shine, who did not sign the letter, said that administrations have been trying to thwart the work of journalists for all his 41 years with the paper. He didn't think his readers would have been much impressed to see his signature at the bottom of that letter. If we have something to say to the mayor, that's how we say it. The Free Press as well as The Detroit News and other area organizations included news stories on the letter and the mayor's response.
Every journalist plays some part in the fight for access.
The access issue is different from abortion or other political causes because of its direct connection to the journalist's work. But, individual reporters, editors and publishers still have to shy away from being publicly identified as advocates. Direct political actions like collecting signatures in the community or lobbying legislators are out of bounds. No matter how important the issue, it's disconcerting for sources and consumers to see a reporter change hats from impartial analyst to advocate. It would be like seeing a judge do commercials to promote the death penalty.