The White House has announced that it will be taking control of the press pool, which is a small group of journalists who cover the president in smaller venues such as the Oval Office or aboard Air Force One.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the White House Correspondents' Association, which has traditionally determined which journalists are in the press pool, will no longer have that authority.
Leavitt said that legacy outlets will retain access to the press pool, but that "well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility" will be granted the opportunity to be in pool.
The White House Correspondents' Association responded in a statement, saying that the move "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States."
"It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president," the statement said. "In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.
9 Comments
Eugene Alta
“This is a dangerous step – government officials picking their own press corps undermines a free press.”
Noir Black
“Legacy outlets retaining access is fine, but opening the pool to hand-picked outlets is worrisome.”
Katchuka
“When government officials pick the press corps, it undermines the historical role of the White House Correspondents’ Association.”
Loubianka
“Next, are all other media access points going to be controlled by the government? This is a slippery slope.”
BuggaBoom
“Supporting this change as it may force all media groups to uphold high standards and accountability.”
KittyKat
“The independence of the free press is at stake when leaders choose their own reporters.”
Katchuka
“It’s unsettling to think that the administration decides who is ‘worthy’ of covering the president.”
Michelangelo
“Opening the pool to new, ‘well-deserving’ outlets could lead to fresh perspectives in political reporting.”
Barachiel
“How can we trust coverage if the government is controlling who gets into the press pool?”