White House takes control of the press pool
WASHINGTON—The White House said on Tuesday it would decide which media organizations participate in the press pool that covers the president, wresting control away from the group of journalists that has done so for decades.
Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that while traditional media organizations would still be allowed to cover the president, the administration plans to change who participates.
The pool system allows select television, radio, wire, print and photojournalists to cover events in smaller spaces such as the Oval Office and share their reporting with the broader media.
“This 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.
In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps,” White House Correspondents’ Association president Eugene Daniels said.
