A reporter for The Apple Leaf student newspaper was denied access to a press meeting at the Wenatchee School District Office this morning. The reporter was told that the press conference was only open to reporters from KPQ, KOHO, and The Wenatchee World.

After being denied access to the press conference, a staff member at the District Office scheduled a private appointment for The Apple Leaf reporter to ask questions and receive information about the press conference.

The reporter was told that because they were a member of a student newspaper they tended to ask more questions than professional reporters, and a private meeting was scheduled to allow for adequate time.

“It’s an outrage,” Apple Leaf Editor-in-Chief Adrian Robinson said. “We aren’t any different from any other newspapers. Just because we are students why are treated any differently?”

Reporters for KOHO, KPQ, and The Wenatchee World were allowed into the conference. Wenatchee Education Association President Kris Cameron was also denied access to the press conference.

Wenatchee High School Student Media Adviser Dave Riggs responded to the incident saying, “Under no circumstances should a student newspaper be barred from a press conference. The student newspaper is also ‘the press.’ We have the same responsibilities as the ‘professional press.’ Denying them their right to attend a press conference is essentially denying them a learning opportunity.”