The White House recently announced a significant shift in how press pool access to the president will be managed. Instead of an independent group of journalists, the administration will now have the authority to determine which outlets can cover events in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and at other key meetings and gatherings that cannot accommodate the full press corps.
New Control Measures
This decision follows a recent ruling that allowed the administration to exclude the Associated Press from pooled events. This action was taken in response to the news wire’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s request to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Press Pool Organization
In a briefing room announcement, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the need for a more inclusive approach. She stated that the White House Correspondents’ Association should no longer have a monopoly on organizing press pools and that the administration would determine the composition of the pool on a daily basis.
Leavitt stressed the importance of having a diverse representation of journalists and outlets in the press pool. While traditional print, radio, and TV correspondents will still be part of the rotations, the White House plans to include representatives from outlets that have historically been excluded. This expansion aims to bring in voices that are well-equipped to cover current news topics effectively.
