The Environmental Protection Agency blocked reporters from several news outlets from a national summit on Tuesday where Scott Pruitt, the agency's chief, was speaking.Journalists from CNN, the Associated Press and the trade publication E&E were barred by the EPA from entering the event, which was focused on harmful chemicals in water. A handful of other reporters from other news organizations, however, were allowed inside the event after having been previously invited by the agency.In a statement, Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman, said the agency barred reporters from attending due to space limitations inside the venue. He said the EPA was able to accommodate only 10 reporters and that it provided a livestream "for those we could not accommodate.""This was simply an issue of the room reaching capacity, which reporters were aware of prior to the event," Wilcox said.A report published by The Hill, however, said a handful of seats in the press section remained vacant by the time Pruitt … [Read more...] about EPA blocks Associated Press, CNN from attending meeting
Associated press
Associated Press Grills State Dept. for Defending LGBTI Human Rights
Associated Press’s Matt Lee grilled State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Secretary Mike Pompeo’s statement Thursday supporting the “fundamental rights” of the LGBTI community, accusing Pompeo of hypocrisy. “About the LGBTI discrimination, anti-discrimination day, basically. It says in there, ‘The United States firmly opposes criminalization, violence, and serious acts of discrimination such as in housing, employment, and government services, directed against LGBTI persons,’” the reporter said, referring to Pompeo’s recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. “And I’m just wondering how it is that you guys can say this – or say it and expect to be taken seriously – when this administration’s stated policy is to discriminate against transgender people by not allowing them to serve in the military,” he said. “Matt, let me first start … [Read more...] about Associated Press Grills State Dept. for Defending LGBTI Human Rights
Associated Press Labels Hamas Border Assault as ‘Mass Killing of Palestinians by Israel’
TEL AVIV — In yet another example of biased news media coverage of events here, a widely circulated Associated Press article referred to Hamas’s orchestrated, violent assault on Israel’s borders as “this week’s mass killing of Palestinians by Israel in Gaza.” The article further smeared the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by claiming that Israel used “disproportionate live fire against unarmed protesters, killing dozens.” The distorted piece was written by London-based Tamer Fakahany, who serves as AP’s “global news manager.” It was titled, “Mideast conflicts connected by vying powerbrokers.” The article seeks to outline the different powers vying for regional control and their connections to recent events. The paragraph that mentions the Hamas assault states (emphasis added): The ongoing wars in Syria, Yemen, this week’s mass killing of Palestinians by Israel in Gaza, Turkish-Kurdish hostilities, … [Read more...] about Associated Press Labels Hamas Border Assault as ‘Mass Killing of Palestinians by Israel’
Elliptic Labs INNER BEAUTY Technology Behind New Smartisan Nut R1 Flagship Phone; Photo Available on Business Wire’s Website and the Associated Press Photo Network
SAN FRANCISCO & BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2018--A photo is available on Business Wire's website and the Associated Press photo network of the Smartisan's new flagship phone with Elliptic Labs’ INNER BEAUTY.This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180515006125/en/The new Smartisan Nut R1 phone released today has a cleaner design and bigger display area thanks to Elliptic Labs’ INNER BEAUTY® ultrasound virtual proximity sensor. This AI-based virtual ultrasound sensor platform replaces the conventional infrared hardware proximity sensor, delivering the Smartisan Nut R1’s modern look. In the hugely competitive Asian market, beautiful smartphone design is mandatory, so phone vendors have been using INNER BEAUTY to achieve maximum screen coverage. Smartisan's first and new flagship phone is also built around the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform. With its breakthrough … [Read more...] about Elliptic Labs INNER BEAUTY Technology Behind New Smartisan Nut R1 Flagship Phone; Photo Available on Business Wire’s Website and the Associated Press Photo Network
Tulsa World sports department wins first place in project reporting in Associated Press Sports Editors national contest
Tulsa World columnist Guerin Emig won first place in project reporting in the 30,000 to 75,000 circulation category in the 2017 Associated Press Sports Editors national sports journalism contest.Emig's project, a two-part series on the struggles of high school football coaches in the Tulsa Public Schools system, was awarded the top spot last week after being selected a top 10 national finisher in late February.Emig also tied for seventh in column writing in the 30,000 to 75,000 category for a portfolio of five columns.Oklahoma beat writer Cody Stavenhagen finished second in explanatory writing in the 30,000 to 75,000 category for his story on the background check policies among Big 12 schools for football recruits. Stavenhagen, who was APSE's top beat writer in the 30,000 to 75,000 category in 2016, finished fifth in beat writing this year for a portfolio of five stories.The Tulsa World sports department received APSE's highest honor — the “grand slam” — during … [Read more...] about Tulsa World sports department wins first place in project reporting in Associated Press Sports Editors national contest