HILO — The state, in anticipation of another confrontation with Thirty Meter Telescope opponents, has issued a set of guidelines for media covering the next protest, including possibly directing photojournalists to an “established area.”
TMT opponents say they intend to block contractors again from reaching the telescope construction site later this month when they try to ascend the mountain to conduct equipment maintenance and other “site preparation activities.”
No date has been announced, but the Department of Land and Natural Resources says it will give the protesters advanced notice as part of a verbal agreement.
Two previous blockades have led to arrests and were covered extensively by Hawaii media, including the Tribune-Herald.
The media guidelines include: coordinating with a state public information officer; potential use of media credentials; the following of all existing laws; giving law enforcement officers at least six feet of space; and the potential establishment of a “media photography/videography area if conditions or activities warrant.”
“We’re requesting the media follow the guidelines for everyone’s safety,” said DLNR spokesman Dan Dennison.
It’s not clear where such an area would be established if that decision is made.
Protests have stretched up the winding summit access road where they are out of view from the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station and other main gathering points.
“I respect the DLNR’s desire to keep everyone safe on Mauna Kea, but I would strongly urge the state to give our reporters and photographers the same access as any other members of the public, including the protesters,” said David Bock, Tribune-Herald editor and publisher. “The newspaper opposes any effort to confine its news-gathering to a media staging area.”