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Members of the Gov. Paul LePage administration will not speak to reporters for the Portland Press Herald, effective Tuesday.

Nor will they speak to employees of the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel, which are also owned by the Press Herald's parent company.

"We're not looking to aid them in the attacks on the governor," said Adrienne Bennett, director of communications for the LePage administration.

The communications office decided on Tuesday to allow Maine Today Media employees to get material from The Associated Press or news releases.

"If they want public information, they are entitled to that and they will get that information," Bennett said.

If an emergency situation occurs in a public safety matter, members of the administration will talk to Maine Today Media. But other than that, they will not, she said.

The executive editor of the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram made a statement in response to the announcement.

"Our mission is to shine a light on how government impacts the lives of Mainers. No threats of gag orders from the LePage administration will stop us from doing probing journalism on behalf of citizens," Cliff Schechtman said.

Bennett cited a number of stories on Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Patricia Aho and the education commissioner as examples of daily attacks on the governor.

"They do not choose to use the information, which is provided by the governor's office in many cases, so what is the point?" she said.

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LePage to Press Herald: Mum's the Word