Missouri Gov. Mike Parson made a newsworthy announcement at his daily briefing on Thursday afternoon, ordering that schools remain closed for the rest of the academic year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But none of the reporters who cover the governor was able to follow up, as they usually would, with questions. That’s because they are barred from attending the briefings at the state Capitol and are required to submit questions by email an hour in advance.

Their queries are screened and selected by Parson’s staff for the sessions, which are live-streamed on Facebook. Journalists weren’t aware of Thursday’s closure order until after they’d sent questions.

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The press attended the governor’s briefings before he banned gatherings of 10 or more on March 20. Parson says he’s believes press access is not an issue.

“It’s not just about doing interviews every day and answering questions,” Parson said at his afternoon news conference. “We’re doing an adequate job of that.”

But news executives and transparency advocates, including the Missouri Press Association and the Missouri Broadcasters Association, have expressed concern with Parson’s approach.

“It’s challenging to be transparent when you can’t get follow up questions or be able to ask questions of the governor right on the spot,” Mark Gordon, president and CEO of the Missouri Broadcasters Association, said. “The frustration is that other states are doing it and the president of the United States doing it. So I don’t know why we can’t do it in Missouri. And that is disappointing, to say the least.”

In some cases, even the pre-submitted questions are never asked.

When Parson issued his stay-at-home order on April 2, he moved his briefing to 5 p.m. and took no questions. As details of the order came into focus over the next day, many wondered whether it was a stay-at-home order at all. The following day, a question submitted by The Star about how the order differed from previous social distancing directives was not asked.

“Citizens do not benefit when a governor is allowed to handpick the few questions he chooses to answer, particularly during a public health crisis,” said Mike Fannin, president and editor of The Star. “Too many days, urgent questions that are relevant to the health and safety of Missourians are going unanswered.

“This is not a time for evasive or dark government. Gov. Parson should remember that, as a public official, he is first and foremost accountable to the public he serves.”

Other governors leading their states through the coronavirus outbreak, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have found ways for real-time give-and-take with reporters while maintaining social distancing precautions.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions daily from a few pool reporters. In Wisconsin, reporters aren’t present but can use a Zoom line to call in questions to Gov. Tony Evers.

The Missouri House and Senate held separate press conferences Wednesday to answer questions about the supplemental budget members passed. These were conference-call style – reporters called in and asked House and Senate leadership questions and follow-up questions in real time.

“That’s not rocket science, “ said Phill Brooks, statehouse reporter for KMOX and professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, who has been covering the beat since 1972. “The University of Missouri uses Zoom for classroom online presentations. This technology has existed for years upon years. There’s no reason why the governor couldn’t use that.”

Parson said Thursday he would not consider using conference calls for his news conferences.

Brooks added that Parson’s reluctance to engage with the press predates COVID-19, and that he has become less available to the media since he became governor.

“He has changed and I have wondered if some of it, if not all of it, is that he’s being over handled by his aides or over handled by political advisors whispering in his ear he’s gotta worry about his chances for re-election.”

Jason Hancock contributed to this story.