Media Divided Over Holder's Off-The-Record Meeting on Press Freedom (Updated)

The AP and CNN have joined the New York Times in standing up to Eric Holder.

The Associated Press issued a statement Wednesday objecting to plans for the meetings to be off the record. “If it is not on the record, AP will not attend and instead will offer our views on how the regulations should be updated in an open letter,” said Erin Madigan White, the AP’s media relations manager.

The New York Times is taking the same position. “It isn’t appropriate for us to attend an off-the-record meeting with the attorney general,” executive editor Jill Abramson said in a statement.

Like the New York Times and the Associated Press, CNN will decline the invitation for an off-the-record meeting. A CNN spokesperson says if the meeting with the attorney general is on the record, CNN would plan to participate.

The Huffington Post’s Washington bureau chief, Ryan Grim, also said he will not attend unless the meeting is on the record. “A conversation specifically about the freedom of the press should be an open one. We have a responsibility not to betray that,” Grim told CNN.

Politico and the Washington Post will attend Holder’s meeting. They don’t want to forfeit their right to gripe, dontcha know.

Fox News Channel is still weighing the meeting and should release its decision this morning. NBC still has yet to decide, but has not announced when it expects a decision.

Update: According to John Nolte, McClatchy has rejected Holder’s off-the-record meeting, while ABC says it will attend.