Puerto Rico’s Fortaleza rejected journalists’ complaints about alleged restrictions on access to government information. Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano defended Governor Jenniffer González Colón’s live broadcasts and denied any policy aimed at limiting press access to public information. In written statements, he said the government rejects the request of several journalists that live streams not be used to inform the public, and he asked the media for more balanced coverage that also reports the government’s positive aspects.
The response followed concerns raised by journalists about their treatment, limits on questions at press conferences, access to government facilities and the use of live broadcasts. Peña Payano said the administration has held about 260 press conferences through the En Récord and Asunto Semanal programs, to which 425 journalists and editors are invited by email and WhatsApp.
He said those figures exclude conferences led by the governor or by agencies. González Colón met on October 9 with the Puerto Rico Journalists Association (ASPPRO) and the Overseas Press Club (OPC). He asked that specific incidents of alleged attacks on journalists’ credibility be identified.
He said La Fortaleza’s press room is being renovated and an alternate space was set up, which he said is little used. He defended State Department ID procedures and police and canine equipment inspections as security protocols, though properly identified journalists from recognized outlets need no special inspection. He said question limits reflect time and organization, and that delays in starting conferences stem from the executive agenda. He asked that agencies allegedly not answering requests be identified.