Israel Balderas talks press access in N.C. Senate race in News & Observer

Elon University Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas was featured in a recent News & Observer article discussing press access in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race. Balderas, a First Amendment attorney and former journalist, commented on decisions by Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper's campaigns to restrict media access at events. He highlighted the crucial role journalists play in informing the public, stating, "If you take the reporter out, it’s not that you’re getting less information, it’s that you’re getting information nobody checked." Balderas noted that banning reporters, a "Trump strategy," may not be effective in this election, as voters are seeking authenticity and may view press exclusion as a sign of candidates hiding something.