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How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

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Incidents: access bans, national level

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

18 incidents match this view.

Country: United States (14) Israel (1) Tanzania (1) China (1) South Africa (1)

Continent: North America (14) Asia (2) Africa (2)

Tactic: Access bans (18) Credential control (6) Expulsion and visa denial (2) Shutdowns and blocking (2) Prior restraint (2) Detention and violence (2)

Outcome: Sustained (7) Reversed (5) Ongoing (4) Unknown (2)

Level: National (18)

Head of government: Donald Trump (11) Samia Suluhu Hassan (1) George W. Bush (1) George H. W. Bush (1) Li Peng (1) P. W. Botha (1) Ronald Reagan (1)

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 18, 2026United States: White House hard-pass deactivations for CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, September 2026United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpOngoing (September 21, 2026)
January 7, 2026Israel: ban on independent entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, 2023 to 2026IsraelAccess bansSustained (February 25, 2026)
October 31, 2025White House closes 'Upper Press' section of West Wing to reportersUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained
October 29, 2025Tanzania shuts down internet access on election day amid unrestTanzaniaShutdowns and blockingSamia Suluhu HassanUnknown
October 15, 2025United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
April 15, 2025White House ends wire services' guaranteed seat in the press poolUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained
February 25, 2025United States: White House takes over selection of the presidential press pool, February 2025United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained (September 22, 2026)
February 11, 2025United States: White House exclusion of the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One, February 2025United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpOngoing (July 22, 2025)
February 6, 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpUnknown
July 16, 2020Federal officers restrict press access to Portland protests; judge orders them to stopUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpReversed (July 16, 2020)
November 7, 2018White House revokes CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credential after a news conference exchange with President TrumpUnited StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
November 7, 2018United States: White House suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass, November 2018United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
February 10, 2003Pentagon sets ground rules for journalists embedded with United States forces in IraqUnited StatesAccess bansGeorge W. BushSustained (April 14, 2003)
January 17, 1991United States military restricts reporters to escorted press pools during the Gulf WarUnited StatesAccess bansGeorge H. W. BushSustained (February 28, 1991)
June 14, 1989China expels foreign journalists and restricts coverage of the Tiananmen Square protestsChinaExpulsion and visa denialLi PengSustained (January 1, 1990)
November 2, 1985South Africa bans television and photographic coverage of unrest under a state of emergencySouth AfricaShutdowns and blockingP. W. BothaReversed (June 1, 1990)
October 25, 1983United States military bars journalists from the invasion of GrenadaUnited StatesAccess bansRonald ReaganReversed (April 1, 1985)
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