White House blocks news organizations from press briefing

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/24/media/cnn-blocked-white-house-gaggle/index.html

CNN and other news outlets were blocked Friday from an off-camera White House press briefing, raising alarm among media organizations and First Amendment watchdogs.[/size]The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Politico were also excluded from the meeting, which is known as a gaggle and is less formal than the televised Q-and-A session in the White House briefing room. The gaggle was held by White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
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[don-o]

BWAHAHAHAHA

HA!

 

[r9etb]

Also:

However, four of the five major television networks -- NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News -- were invited and attended the meeting, while CNN was blocked. The conservative media organizations Breitbart News, The Washington Times and One America News Network were also allowed in.

The Associated Press and Time magazine boycotted the briefing because of how it was handled.

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.  The idea of a president rewarding compliant media isn't new ... but it also fosters an appearance of impropriety.

[Victoria33]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

Block the press, that's a dictator action.  You only get in if you are going to say nice things about the dictator.

[Wingnut]

Also:

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.  The idea of a president rewarding compliant media isn't new ... but it also fosters an appearance of impropriety.

They (CNN) can watch it on the news like the rest of us!   lol

[r9etb]

Block the press, that's a dictator action.  You only get in if you are going to say nice things about the dictator.

Agreed.  But to be fair, Trump isn't the first to do it.  He's maybe just a bit more open and flagrant about it.

[geronl]

@AbaraXas

Like a wannabe-dictator, Trump wants to control the media.

[ABX]

There is no specific guideline, rule, or law that says any specific news organization has to be included or can't be excluded.

Logic would dictate that one would go with the press who has the largest reach in order to have the widest audience for your story but also, the market (ie people choosing) shows which outlets people prefer.

As stated above, choosing only friendly media to invite, while not against the rules, fosters the appearance of impropriety.  It also gives the impression one can't handle the challenge of criticism.

That being said, it is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

I remember when Obama started shutting out Fox for some briefings, our side went ballistic. Same situation, different station letters.

[don-o]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

Block the press, that's a dictator action.  You only get in if you are going to say nice things about the dictator.
[/quote

They don't get their spoon feeding and have to do some real journalism?
Where is my tiny violin?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I think this is a losing move for the WH... in this day and age controlling the media by "blocking them" is ridiculous. Media is omnipresent and they will say what they want regardless.


It just makes the Trumpsters look petty IMO.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

[size=2.77778rem]Jake Tapper Defends FOX News




https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2009/10/jake-tapper-defends-fox-news/341851/


From 2009[/size]

[r9etb]

There is no specific guideline, rule, or law that says any specific news organization has to be included or can't be excluded.
.
.
.
I remember when Obama started shutting out Fox for some briefings, our side went ballistic. Same situation, different station letters.

True.  But given that Trump has specifically attacked CNN .... this can properly be seen as retribution.

And "Obama did it, too" isn't an impressive defense of the practice.

This isn't to defend the media, per se -- their general record of objective reporting is abysmal, and they're clearly out to get Trump.

Still: to shut out a major news outlet like CNN is ... well, it's Nixonian.  And we all know how well that worked out for Tricky Dick.

[ABX]

I think this is a losing move for the WH... in this day and age controlling the media by "blocking them" is ridiculous. Media is omnipresent and they will say what they want regardless.

You hit a key point. The media is going to tell the story, whether they are there or not. If they are there, you have more of a chance of influencing that story by directly answering their questions in a way that favors you and leaves no room for false interpertation.

[r9etb]

You hit a key point. The media is going to tell the story, whether they are there or not. If they are there, you have more of a chance of influencing that story by directly answering their questions in a way that favors you and leaves no room for false interpertation.

The fairy tale version of this story has Trump and the various media outlets getting together and both sides agreeing to tone down the attacks, and trying hard to be clear, objective, honest, and correct.

But the egos are too big on both sides for that to happen.

[Resp3]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

Block the press, that's a dictator action.  You only get in if you are going to say nice things about the dictator.

In what alternate universe is CNN, the TimeS and other anti-American Yellow Journalists considered "the press"?

I'd sooner give credentials to the National Enquirer before I would CNN.

[XenaLee]

Is Trump trying to teach the lamestream media that lying to the American public has consequences?  Good luck with that.  They're incapable of learning anything, much less the concept of "consequences".

[geronl]

I'd sooner give credentials to the National Enquirer before I would CNN.

So would Trump. Trump gets his real news from the Weekly World News anyway, he knows Hillary married an alien.

[geronl]

Is Trump trying to teach the lamestream media that lying to the American public has consequences? 

Not his job.

[endicom]

Not a briefing but a gaggle, you gooses.

[truth_seeker]

Is Trump trying to teach the lamestream media that lying to the American public has consequences?  Good luck with that.  They're incapable of learning anything, much less the concept of "consequences".

Thanks for showing up with some common sense.

Presidents McCain and Romney were much more gentle with the media, during their terms.

[skeeter]

You hit a key point. The media is going to tell the story, whether they are there or not. If they are there, you have more of a chance of influencing that story by directly answering their questions in a way that favors you and leaves no room for false interpertation.

Nice in theory, but the truth is the MSM will deliver their news in accordance with their ideological POV regardless of what the administration does. It's always been this way.

That being the case it makes no sense to lend increased legitimacy over others to news organizations who have made it their mission to see you fail. What does make sense is to do whatever possible to give other, less hostile news outlets an equivalent level of prestige.

[Victoria33]

I think this is a losing move for the WH... in this day and age controlling the media by "blocking them" is ridiculous. Media is omnipresent and they will say what they want regardless.
It just makes the Trumpsters look petty IMO.

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

Are you familiar with the book of long ago, "How to Win Friends and Influence People"?  (Written by Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) and first published in 1936.)  Anyway, millions of people watch CNN.  Those millions are going to detest Trump for locking out CNN.  Trump needs to read that book because he isn't making any friends or influencing people by locking out certain news organizations which is locking out people who depend on those news organizations for their news.  Dumb Trump, he reacts with emotion against people/groups without thinking of unintended consequences.

[Resp3]

Are you familiar with the book of long ago, "How to Win Friends and Influence People"?  (Written by Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) and first published in 1936.)  Anyway, millions of people watch CNN.  Those millions are going to detest Trump for locking out CNN.  Trump needs to read that book because he isn't making any friends or influencing people by locking out certain news organizations which is locking out people who depend on those news organizations for their news.  Dumb Trump, he reacts with emotion against people/groups without thinking of unintended consequences.
[/quote]

Millions of people also watch TV trash tabloid shows like the View. Should Trump also legitimize trash TV talks shows by giving them props at the White House?

CNN and The Times have no more credibility than does SNL's Weekend Update, or Bill Maher or Tosh 2.0.

To have the Times at the White House briefing is an insult to real journalists and real non-fake news agencies.

[r9etb]

To have the Times at the White House briefing is an insult to real journalists and real non-fake news agencies.

Such as....?

[DCPatriot]

The Trump Administration did this to punish CNN, NYT, LAT, WP and POLICITO for refusing to stop with the bullsh*t "UNNAMED SOURCES".....they are currently NOT 'legitimate' news.