Thread by @julito77

After just 1 month of getting a temporary pass to cover Congress for @latinorebels, @PabloReports's pass has not been extended. Been working hard with Pablo to get it renewed even to point of having @SpeakerPelosi's office intervene. They actually tried to help. #LatinoRebelsDCC

I am beyond upset because the mostly white Periodical Gallery committee gave us the runaround and also lied to us. I was told in a phone call by the person who helps coordinate the committee that @PabloReports was seen as being "too visible" during his one month of coverage.

Was also told that committee members complained that @PabloReports was there all the time covering Congress and that they didn't expect him to do so much work.

Essentially, @PabloReports is getting penalized for doing his job. He actually filed some great stories for @latinorebels. A link to them here. latinorebels.com/category/latin…

We were trying to cover Congress through a Latino lens because there are literally no English-language Latino political sites with credentials.

After much runaround and excuses, I was also told by the Committee that we couldn't qualify because as a nonprofit, @futuromedia needs to make 51% of income from advertising or subscriptions.

This rule is from the 1970s. I also told the Committee members via email that they are denying Latino journalists access to cover Congress. They didn't care. They hid behind their rules. And it is not a good look on them.

We do plan to go more public about this because in the end, it shows how white the Congressional media really is and how they have done nothing to diversify media voices in Congress.

I do plan to share emails and other correspondence next week. It is so discriminatory and goes against freedom of the press. Basically, sorry, Latino journalist, you cannot be part of this exclusive (mostly white) press corps.

In just one month of coverage for @latinorebels, @PabloReports' stories made POLITICO newsletters 4 times, we made news in Puerto Rico and even made news in Colombia. We also got kudos from members of Congress for being there. #LatinoRebelsDC

The message that the Congressional Periodical Gallery is sending is this:

1) No Latino political news organizations allowed.
2) No independent nonprofit media companies allowed either.

That is an affront to press access and goes against the press principles of this country.

And yes, I did call the committee discriminatory and racist.

I also said they they lied to us. They will of course deny it all but I spoke to them, took notes and also called them out in emails for lying to us. To get this from other journalists is insulting to to the work that we do and have done for the Latino community.

More from @PabloReports here.

vm.tiktok.com/ZMepcv3XY/

BTW, our media properties at Futuro run ads and advertisers pay us for those ads. LR makes $ off of ads. But apparently nonprofit media companies that make less than 51% off of ads & subscriptions are not considered legit media outlets that can cover Congress. That's just wrong.

Was also told that freelancers working for outlets cannot get credentials. FYI, freelancer reporters work in Congress.

Am still stuck on the comment that @PabloReports was viewed as being "too visible" in doing his job. Too visible? What does that even mean?

Am sharing the first letter request I asked on April 15 after being transferred from Periodicals to Radio/TV to Periodicals. I had assurances that it would have at least lasted two months so we can work on some stories.

And the Executive Committee, who I found out via a phone conversation that one member complained about @PabloReports as being "too visible," is all male and overwhelmingly white. (FYI, the members will deny the "visible" comment, but I know what I heard)

periodical.house.gov/about-us/execu…