Trump lifts media blacklist on banned news organizations

PHILADELPHIA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday ended a media blacklist that had drawn strong criticism from press freedom advocates, allowing a number of banned news organizations to resume getting credentials to cover his campaign events.

Trump had banned The Washington Post, Politico and Buzzfeed after coverage that was critical of him. The banned organizations had continued covering his campaign, but had not been able to get credentials to formally attend his events.

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Press freedom advocates strongly condemned such bans. Reporters without Borders said when the Post was banned in June that it was an "act of hostility" toward the media and a serious violation of press freedom.

Reporters from the banned organizations had often gained access to Trump's campaign events as regular citizens, but could be tossed out by his security officials if discovered.

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"I figure they can't treat me any worse," Trump, a New York businessman, told CNN in a statement declaring the ban over.

Trump is running against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 presidential election. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Frances Kerry)