Don't talk to Reporters?

Part of an annual compliance training I saw posted on the internet of some random company:

“I got a call from a reporter at a local newspaper. She wants to know what I think about a recent event about your employer. Should I talk to her?”

Answer: *NO*

What?  As a journalist by training I find the above ‘compliance’ training statement very chilling.  It appears to have a chilling effect not only on journalism but citizen rights to freedom of speech.   If my workplace were to crash down during an earthquake and a reporter came up to me and asked me, “what happened?” I’m going to tell her.

Corporate communication control at its best.