On Tuesday, President Donald Trump continued his pattern of attempting to control his press corps. His administration moved to remove a slot from the White House’s press pool that was regularly filled by one of three major newswires: the Associated Press, Reuters or Bloomberg. Although many may view this as a simple policy change, journalists can recognize this as a consistent threat to journalism and the larger public.
After a U.S. judge lifted restrictions on AP’s ban from covering the White House, the Trump administration immediately found a way to alter the press pool regulations. According to Reuters, the pool previously consisted of 10 outlets that essentially followed the president. Now, Bloomberg, AP and Reuters will no longer have a regular spot in the pool. They will be included in a larger rotation with about 30 other outlets, meaning they don’t have the same guaranteed access.
For any journalist, but especially those at newswires who know their coverage is essential across the country, access to the president is crucial – and this means a guaranteed spot in the press pool with an opportunity to ask questions.
According to the New York Times, “The presidential press pool is a small, rotating group of reporters who are granted access to more intimate events with the president, such as Oval Office receptions, and relay the proceedings to other journalists and the broader public. It is a logistical accommodation for smaller spaces that cannot fit dozens of reporters, and an opportunity for journalists to interact up close with the president and ask him direct questions.”
The current administration is taking several steps to show Americans that they are selecting their own coverage, and nobody seems concerned enough.
As context, newswires provide a necessary service to many Americans. AP, Bloomberg and Reuters are quick in their fact-based reporting in the most exclusive rooms — whether that is the Supreme Court or the White House. Other newsrooms, including local stations across the U.S., pick these stories up and republish them. Considering the current state of local and small newsrooms, information from major newswires is crucial to keep readers everywhere informed.
According to a Reuters spokesperson, “It is essential to democracy that the public have access to independent, impartial and accurate news about their government. Any steps by the U.S. government to limit access to the president threatens that principle, both for the public and the world’s media."
This dangerous form of censorship will slowly begin to affect the U.S. as a whole. What may seem like a quiet and subtle change will eventually become censorship by omission as the newswires continue to be left out of the press pool.
Layne Rey is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
