Freedom From The Press

Radio host Sean Hannity’s series of “Freedom Concerts” apparently aren’t about freedom for news outlets that aren’t Fox News, according to Ohio organizations that were prevented from covering the event at Timberwolf Amphitheatre at Kings Island park Aug. 21.

Fans not among the 10,000 or so who scooped up tickets to see the talk show host present Billy Ray Cyrus, Charlie Daniels Band, Michael W. Smith and Lee Greenwood at the “Freedom” concert in Ohio were out of luck if they tuned to most media outlets for news or any other coverage of the concert.

“As per the Freedom Alliance organization, media access for tonight’s concert will not be permitted,” Kings Island park spokesman Don Helbig e-mailed the local Dayton Daily News.

The e-mail rescinded an earlier invitation to media outlets, including newspaper still photographers, to cover a book-signing event for Ret. Lt. Col. Oliver North’s latest book.

Helbig explained to local media that his understanding was news coverage of the book event would be allowed, but that of the actual concert would not.

“Then … in a final meeting with [organizers], they just said there wouldn’t be any media access because [North] had an agreement … with his affiliates that guarantee they would be the exclusive media for the event,” Helbig told the Daily News.

The sixth annual concert series benefits the Freedom Alliance Scholarship fund started by North to help dependents of deceased or disabled U.S. military veterans.