Two Variety reporters and a staff photographer were told by officials at the check-in tables at the Sheraton, Hilton and Marriot hotels that the Variety had been “banned” from attending the event.
Onsite industry forum personnel notified the reporting staff that the ban was on a “federal level” and was issued as a “government order” by U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Neil Ruggiero with the Joint Guam Project Office.
JGPO is the liaison between Guam and the military regarding the military buildup here.
The ban was in effect in all venues, as confirmed by Variety reporters in the field.
Press passes were printed for every media company on island, except for the Variety.
When reached for comment, Ruggiero refused to call the restriction a “ban,” and claimed that the forum personnel were subcontracted and were not speaking directly for JGPO.
Registration fee
Ruggiero argued that Variety could have attended the event as a business if the publishers had registered with the forum.
“Marianas Variety was given the same opportunity as anyone else, they just chose not to be paying registrants, [Pacific Daily News] chose to pay and they were allowed access,” he said.
“I had to pay to work, everybody has to pay to be there,” Ruggiero added.
However, any media covering the event was allowed free entry.
In response to claims of a violation of the freedom of the press in restricting access to the forum, Ruggiero responded that “the press who only stays one session is allowed in free.” That accommodation was not extended to the Variety.
Ruggiero also said that a Variety columnist was given access to represent the paper.
Variety columnist Jayne Flores confirmed that she was given a pass, but Ruggiero later said, “I told her she could not come as Marianas Variety or write any news for them.”
