Virtueonline Denied Media Credentials to Upcoming General Convention

This is the first time I have been denied credentialed press access to General Convention. I have covered seven Episcopal General Conventions — 1982 in New Orleans on site for the Hammond Vindicator; 1991 in Phoenix on site for the Episcopal Synod of America; 2009 in Anaheim (Mickey Mouseland) on site for VOL; 2012 in Indianapolis, 2015 in Salt Lake City, 2018 in Austin, and 2022 in Baltimore online virtually for VirtueOnline.

But this time I have been denied even virtual online accreditation for the 2024 General Convention. I had hoped to cover the event offsite via the Internet with needed access to vital media connections.

“You may, however, wish to tune in to the public feeds of both houses, worship, and the press conferences on our General Convention media hub,” Ms. Skofstaf suggested.

Without proper media credentials a reporter cannot be an active part of a news conference, just quietly monitor it. They have no access to zoom links which allows them to actively participate in the pressers. The reporter’s voice and questions are silenced.

Without media credentials the offsite reporter has no access to vital resources and information needed to write their stories. Nor are they looped into the daily media updates that the Office of Public Affairs puts out. As a result non-credentialed journalists are hampered and hamstrung in their ability to effectively cover the General Convention.

Well, just what “criteria” is Ms. Skofstaf referring to?

Read here