No room at the press conference

It was the press conference to nowhere.

When U.S. Rep. Don Young invited the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman to a press conference Friday, there was nothing in the invitation to indicate it would be an exclusive audience. When other media, namely the Anchorage Daily News, and Anchorage radio and television, showed up for the event, Young’s staff first told them they weren’t welcome, then canceled the conference. Seems this was to be an exclusive sit-down with Mat-Su Valley media only.

While perhaps a little flustered to learn of the special place we may hold in the congressman’s heart, attendance at press conferences should not be administered like the membership committee of an exclusive country club. As an elected representative of the people of Alaska, Young shouldn’t be allowed to keep out those he deems undesirable. He has every right to not answer questions or be unresponsive, and accept the consequences of how he handles tough questions from media outlets he doesn’t like.

What happened Friday is an example of a man who has devoted decades of service to Alaska losing sight of the fact that he works for the people, not the other way around. Those turned away on the doorstep of the Mat-Su legislative office should be as welcome there as any other Alaska resident. It’s not Young’s office, it’s ours and he’s our guest there.

When our editor called shortly before the scheduled 10:30 a.m. start of Friday’s press conference, he was told simply that the event had been canceled. There was nothing in the media-alert notice sent to the Frontiersman that indicates Friday’s press event was for selected members of the press only. Had that been the case we would have suggested it being all-inclusive.

If Young wants to discuss Valley issues with certain media outlets and not others, a more appropriate approach would have been to schedule individual meetings with those outlets, as he did earlier this year when we had an enjoyable visit with the congressman at our Wasilla office.

Young has long claimed he is the “congressman for all Alaska,” and even has this emblazoned across the top of his official Web site. What’s sad about Friday’s fiasco is that the ones losing out are those who make up “all Alaska.” Instead of Young and his office staff answering questions and putting out information that may be important for residents to know, you get this editorial instead.

We expect you are disappointed. We are, too.