President Obama on Friday attended the 12th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, but there were "strict rules in place that extended beyond barring the media from divulging Obama’s insights," according to Steve Annear of the BOSTON GLOBE. During Obama’s panel, photography; video recording; streaming; and social media posting was not permitted -- "without exception." A notice from conference officials said, “Following the panel, the sharing or reporting of its contents on public platforms, including social media, will not be permitted. Those who fail to adhere to this policy will be subject to removal from the conference and denied tickets to future SSAC conferences.” A conference organizer "described the statement as 'self-explanatory.'" Conference co-Chair Jessica Gelman said that this year’s conference had "more than 3,500 people from more than 35 countries representing some 600 organizations and 200 universities" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/24).
OFF THE RECORD: In Boston, Chris Cassidy noted reporters were "granted media credentials weeks ago, only to be slapped with the journalistic equivalent of a gag order just 24 hours before the conference." Ken Paulson, president & CEO of the First Amendment Center at the Newseum Institute, said, “Everyone involved in this blanket coverage ban should be embarrassed" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/24). Also in Boston, Joe Battenfeld wrote it was a "bizarre gag order." Battenfeld: "Let’s face it, the speech wouldn’t have exactly made front page news if reporters had been allowed to report it. ... But we still should have been allowed to report how boring it was" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/24). RECODE's Peter Kafka wrote, "I can't fathom why that talk would be off-the-record. I've asked a Sloan rep for comment; a rep for ESPN, which is the lead sponsor for the event, declined to comment" (RECODE.net, 2/24).
