Comments on: CRS Director Moves to Restrict Analysts’ Media Contacts http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Data Librarian http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict.html/comment-page-1#comment-705 Data Librarian Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:47:41 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict_analysts_media_contacts.html#comment-705 <i>"If analysts cannot publish or freely comment on subjects of their expertise, some will conclude that CRS is not a hospitable venue for their professional development and they will go elsewhere."</i> This certainly struck a chord with me. I was about to apply for the Data Librarian position that they just advertised. (I believe I'm well qualified for the job.) Then I did some background research on CRS and came across this. Incredible! I wonder how many other job applicants they will lose because of the Director's lack of leadership skills. “If analysts cannot publish or freely comment on subjects of their expertise, some will conclude that CRS is not a hospitable venue for their professional development and they will go elsewhere.”

This certainly struck a chord with me. I was about to apply for the Data Librarian position that they just advertised. (I believe I’m well qualified for the job.) Then I did some background research on CRS and came across this. Incredible! I wonder how many other job applicants they will lose because of the Director’s lack of leadership skills.

]]> By: Linda Lewis http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict.html/comment-page-1#comment-704 Linda Lewis Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:47:09 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict_analysts_media_contacts.html#comment-704 "Autocratic, centralized, and secretive" describes just about every federal agency nowadays. Agencies have a right to insist the the "official" agency response to inquiries issue from its designated officers. But, there was never before such an aggressive attempt to silence all employee speech, including communication with Congress about issues of personal concern. (This is against the law, but no one ever seems to be prosecuted for it.) I have seen secrecy used to cover up abuses of authority far more often than for any legitimate purpose. “Autocratic, centralized, and secretive” describes just about every federal agency nowadays. Agencies have a right to insist the the “official” agency response to inquiries issue from its designated officers. But, there was never before such an aggressive attempt to silence all employee speech, including communication with Congress about issues of personal concern. (This is against the law, but no one ever seems to be prosecuted for it.) I have seen secrecy used to cover up abuses of authority far more often than for any legitimate purpose.

]]> By: Madadam http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict.html/comment-page-1#comment-703 Madadam Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:42:56 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict_analysts_media_contacts.html#comment-703 <i>The new policy "will obviously have a chilling effect on staff," said one CRS analyst on a not-for-attribution basis. "That's what it is intended to do."</i> That is the phrase which concerns me, then again, perhaps it's quoted out of context as they say they're trying to protect against? As the above poster said, I am still learning how the US political machine works. The new policy “will obviously have a chilling effect on staff,” said one CRS analyst on a not-for-attribution basis. “That’s what it is intended to do.”

That is the phrase which concerns me, then again, perhaps it’s quoted out of context as they say they’re trying to protect against?

As the above poster said, I am still learning how the US political machine works.

]]> By: Tony Prudori http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict.html/comment-page-1#comment-702 Tony Prudori Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:14:49 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/01/crs_director_moves_to_restrict_analysts_media_contacts.html#comment-702 I preface this by saying I am only still learning about how the US political machine works. However, I thought it would be pretty standard practice in any public sector environment that staff who speak to media let their bosses and/or comms staff know who they spoke with and what was said. I know of many cases where one thing was said, and another written - often quite FAR at odds from one another. I'm happy to be corrected on alleged ulterior motives, though. I preface this by saying I am only still learning about how the US political machine works.

However, I thought it would be pretty standard practice in any public sector environment that staff who speak to media let their bosses and/or comms staff know who they spoke with and what was said. I know of many cases where one thing was said, and another written – often quite FAR at odds from one another.

I’m happy to be corrected on alleged ulterior motives, though.

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