Another NASA?

Like many Americans who cherish a free press, I was disturbed to read about NASA’s efforts to muzzle James E. Hansen, the director of the agency’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

In a recent report in The New York Times, Hansen disclosed that the agency’s public affairs staff had begun to review his coming lectures, papers, and Web postings.

Houston, we have a problem.

The PR staff had also rejected an interview request with Hansen by National Public Radio (which, in the interests of full disclosure, is a client). And it insisted that a ‘handler’ from the PR department be present during any other interview.

I never imagined I’d become embroiled in a NASA-like incident. But last week, I did.

You can read about it in the second-to-last paragraph of today’s New York Times column about rental car contracts. Basically, a publicist from American Express ordered a company executive to shut up during an interview.

But what I didn’t report is that later, when I tried to fact-check the information, the source was not even allowed to verify the spelling of his own name. Instead, I heard back from a publicist, who told me he was the only way to communicate with the source.

American Express is, of course, entitled to use these heavy-handed tactics to deal with the media. It is allowed to treat its employees like children. After all, it’s their company.

This isn’t a problem for me — there are plenty of other travel experts in the world. It could be a problem for you, though. Especially if you are an American Express customer.

Think about it. If the company is so intent on controlling the flow of information with an outsider, like me, then what does that mean for you, as a client? When you ask for the lowest airfare, can you be sure you’re actually getting it? When you request a spending report, are you receiving all the data? Or are they holding something back?

Is your travel agent, your travel manager, your account executive, telling you everything?

Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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