Media Cite Progress In Labor Dept. Dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — Media organization executives are citing progress in their dispute with the Labor Department over its proposal to require news organizations to use government computers to file stories on jobs data.

Testifying to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday, Reuters and Bloomberg News officials revealed little detail about the movement they said occurred in talks with administration officials. Dow Jones and The Associated Press have also participated. The news organizations have fought the proposal to use government equipment.

Until now, data are given to reporters in a department “lock up” room minutes before the official release so they can prepare their stories and then file them when the information is publicly released. The department had originally proposed requiring reporters to use government computers, not their own equipment.