The White House recently announced a significant change regarding press pool access to presidential events. Instead of an independent group of journalists, the administration will now determine which outlets are granted entry into the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other exclusive meetings and gatherings that cannot accommodate the entire press corps.
This decision follows a recent legal ruling allowing the administration to exclude the Associated Press from pooled events as a response to the news wire's refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a demand made by President Donald Trump.
Press Pool Restructuring
During a briefing room announcement, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the White House Correspondents' Association no longer holds a monopoly on organizing press pools. Instead, the White House will now determine the composition of the pool on a day-to-day basis.
Leavitt expressed the belief that all journalists, outlets, and voices should have equal opportunity for access, stating, "All journalists, outlets, and voices deserve a seat at this highly coveted table."
The traditional White House Correspondents' Association, comprising journalists elected by their peers, has historically overseen the rotations of print, radio, and television correspondents within the pool. This 13-member group is granted access to the president in more intimate settings.
Expansion of Press Pool
Despite continuing the existing print, radio, and TV pool rotations, the White House now plans to include representatives from additional outlets that were previously excluded. Leavitt also mentioned the intention to incorporate more outlets and reporters into the pool who are deemed suitable for covering current news events.
This shift signifies a notable change in how media access is managed within the White House, raising questions about the future dynamics of press coverage and the diversity of voices in presidential event reporting.