Six New England journalism organizations issued a statement last week strongly condemning President Donald Trump’s recent decision to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from The White House. Connecticut Daily Newspaper Association, Maine Press Association, Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, New England First Amendment Coalition, New England Newspaper and Press Association, and Vermont Press Association all signed the September 22, 2026 statement. The Newtown Bee/Bee Publishing Company is a proud long-standing member of New England Newspaper and Press Association. We stand with our journalism colleagues mentioned here, and others who have denounced the president’s action.

This is not a partisan statement but a statement of solidarity with our fellow news organizations and supporting the free press, which is a cornerstone of our democracy. It should be noted that Fox News is also standing with the banned organizations as part of a protest stopping coverage of the president's press events. If one stays silent when news organizations on the other side of the partisan divide are mistreated, one has no standing to speak up when organizations on the same side of the partisan divide are mistreated, and Fox News clearly realizes that in standing in solidarity with the other organizations.

We find the need to issue such a statement less than two weeks ahead of National Newspaper Week 2026 just a little ironic, however. This year’s National Newspaper Week theme is “Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth.” The Newtown Bee has been living that theme for just shy of 150 years.

Since June 1877, reporters and editors of this newspaper have fanned out across Newtown — and during the early decades of this newspaper’s history, across the region — on fact-finding missions. It has been our duty to find information, facts, the truth, good or bad, happy or otherwise, and share all of that with our readers, backed up by photography also created by our reporting staff. Taxes, education, sports, business, health, art, religion, politics. It all belongs on the pages of this and every newspaper across the country and around the world committed to representing the Fourth Estate and the First Amendment.

As noted by the aforementioned organizations, a free and independent press is fundamental to democracy. Journalists must report on government officials and hold those in power accountable. They must be allowed to do this without fear of retaliation or restrictions based on the content of their reporting.

Presidents have the right to respond to criticism and challenge reporting they believe is inaccurate. Everyone in this country has that right, in fact. That is one of the benefits of living within a democracy. Using the power of the presidency to restrict access for news organizations because of their coverage threatens the principles of press freedom and government transparency, however.

The press is a proxy for the public. When the press is denied access, the people are denied access to information. The president is the country's most powerful public servant, but they are still a public servant, doing a job to benefit the country and its residents, and answerable to the country and all its residents.

Last week’s statement continued: “Protecting press freedom is not about supporting one political party or opposing another. It is about defending the constitutional principles that allow journalism to serve the public, regardless of who occupies the White House. As organizations representing and supporting journalism throughout New England, we remain committed to defending the First Amendment and supporting the vital role of an independent press.”

This newspaper remains dedicated to its simple, founding principle: truth in reporting. We are committed to the residents of the 60 square miles who continue to call this piece of land home. We are grateful to those who continue to support us through subscriptions and advertising. We could not continue to capture the history of Newtown without that support. Our roots are deep, and strong, and dedicated to providing the best news coverage for Newtown's residents, and keeping Newtown's public servants answerable to its residents.