Possible changes coming to the White House press corps have many in the media in an uproar.
According to reports from those close to President-elect Donald Trump, his previously tenuous relationship with the media is likely to get even more fragile after possible changes to the press briefing room, as The Hill reported.
Journalists are in an uproar as news that the incoming administration will change not only who has access to the president, but the seating position in the briefing room could reflect the value that Trump puts on various members of the media.
There have been rumors that podcasters, internet personalities and media deemed less left-leaning could replace major outlets like television networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post in the room’s front rows.
When asked about their reactions to the idea, reporters covering the White House expressed feelings of annoyance, frustration, and dread in conversations with The Hill this week.
Historically, the first row of the James Brady Briefing Room has been occupied by the four major networks of NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, as well as The Associated Press, CNN, and Reuters.
The second row is occupied by seats from other larger outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CBS News Radio, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg. However, certain news organizations lack formal seating in the room.
Numerous journalists declined to provide on-the-record comments or requested anonymity in order to speak candidly about the potential for a significantly altered press room and the resulting controversy.
“It would be a total mess,” one White House reporter told The Hill this week.
“I would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot deciding if they want to go along with what the Trump people are trying to pull.”
While The White House has always prioritized major news organizations when dealing with the press, Trump has not traditionally held that position.
In an effort to limit off-camera press briefings, the first Trump administration sought to exclude outlets it deemed unflattering. Among these were CNN, the BBC, Politico, and the New York Times.
A number of reporters from Politico, Axios, and Puck News were among those his campaign barred from attending last week's election watch event in Mar-a-Lago.
At present, the briefing room can accommodate 49 reporters from various outlets. Current publications would have to be targeted if pro-Trump sites like Steve Bannon's War Room were to be granted access to daily press briefings.
Although press credentials are decided by the White House, the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) formally controls seating.
After conservative news network One America News Network (OANN) failed to comply with WHCA COVID regulations in 2020, the WHCA famously removed it from the daily White House briefing rotation.
