"A free and independent press is fundamental to a functioning democracy--it differentiates democracy from dictatorship; separates a free society from tyranny."-- Gary Pruitt

June 21, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Associated Press President and CEO Gary Pruitt, in an address to the National Press Club on June 19, warned journalists that AP and other news organizations are experiencing a “chilling effect” on news gathering due to revelations that the government had covertly accessed reporters phone records and  more.

Sources, even in law enforcement, have voiced fears over talking to reporters as a result of the surveillance, Pruitt said.

Below is the full text of his speech from a press release issued by AP:

March 17, 2013 (San Diego)--A coalition of local and national organizations will hold four days of action in San Diego to protest the U.S. government’s use of drones, from April 4-7, 2013.  The host group, Drone Diego, has invited participants from across the nation to call attention to the threats from increasing unmanned robotic warfare by the United States.  Drone Diego will host varied events over a half-week-long series of actions.  

February 28, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

NATIONAL

• Supreme Court Makes It Harder To Challenge Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (NPR)
• Cap Cod community considers taking down wind turbines after illness, noise (Fox)
• Needy families can apply for pet food stamps through donation-based program(ABC News 5)
• Threat of sequestration looms as deadline approaches (CBS)
• Justices asked to void marriage law provision (U-T San Diego)
• Cash-Strapped Postal Service To Launch A New Clothing Line (NPR)
• The true size of the National Debt (Washington Post)
• Mom takes on smart meters over privacy, security and health (Jewish World Health)
• Those terrible first few minutes: Revisiting active shooter protocols for schools (FBI Bulletin)
• iDoctor: Could a smart phone be the future of medicine?  (NBC)

WORLD

• Mexico's 'Crisis Of Disappearance': Families Seek Answers  (NPR)
• UK convicts 3 Islamists for plotting another 9/11 (Jerusalem Post)
• Heritage sites of national significance under threat from wind farms (British Telegraph)
• For Taliban victims, Pakistani peace talks feel like betrayal (Christian Science Monitor)
• Bulgarian government resigns amid growing protests (Reuters)
• Sunspots: Huge and growing fast, says NASA (Christian Science Monitor)
• 'Gazans seek elections as Hamas support declines' (Jerusalem Post)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

November1, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Sandy blamed for 157 deaths (CNN)
• Impact by state: States pick up pieces as Sandy fades (CNN)
• Hurricane Sandy blows election off course (Reuters)
• Obama on storm recovery: We will not quit until this is done (CNN)
• Romney’s challenge: How to campaign after Sandy (CBS)
• Romney ties to voting machine company that could decide the election causing concerns (Forbes)
• Romney’s lax regulation may have fueled meningitis outbreak (Salon)
• Did U.S. go too far in secret surveillance of citizens? Case heads to Supreme Court  (Christian Science Monitor)
• U.S. sues Bank America for mortgage fraud (NPR)
• Citing food safety concerns, Kroger calls it quits on sprouts (NPR)
• Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm

WORLD

• Death knell for wind farms: Enough is enough, says Energy Minister in Britain (UK Telegraph)
• In world first, biggest refugee camp gets university (Christian Science Monitor)
• In vitro fertilization increases risk of birth defects (Jerusalem Post)
• AP interview: Japan nuke plant water worries rise (U-T San Diego)
• Did Israel just blow up an Iranian weapons factory in Sudan? (Christian Science Monitor)
• Death toll tops 100 in ethnic strife in Myanmar (NPR)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.