There’s a long history of tensions between some members of the press and some U.S. presidents. And numerous examples of payback.
President Nixon nixed the Washington Post from the White House after the newspaper broke the Watergate story. The New York Times claimed it was denied a seat on Vice President Dick Cheney’s plane. President Obama declared war on Fox News, and booted from his campaign plane reporters from three newspapers that had endorsed his opponent, Republican John McCain.
When it comes to White House briefings, there are traditions and practices. President Reagan called on raised hands. President Obama was said to stick religiously to calling on a pre-prepared list of reporters’ names, in order. Some reporters have attended White House briefings for years without ever being called upon; some get called upon almost every time. UPI reporter Helen Thomas covered 10 presidential administrations, starting with John F. Kennedy, and nearly always got the first question, as a matter of tradition; often, her question was ornery or challenging. (She retired in 2010 after making comments viewed as anti-Semitic.)
Preferential front-row seats used to be reserved exclusively for network reporters. Little bronze tags were affixed to the chairs; “CBS,” “ABC” or “NBC,” they read. Nobody else dared sit there. The networks liked that; other reporters, not so much. (Continued)
Read the rest of my article in The Hill
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Your historical description of reporters/White House interactions unfortunately dos not apply to the Trump presidency. Since day 1 after the election (again unfortunately) the main stream media has been hostile and very disrespectful towards the President and his press secretary.
Really, no need for rules of engagement or consulting the reporters association. All they have to do is use common sense and behave like professional journalists. Perhaps they need a refresher course on “journalism for the benefit of the Country not for a specific party”. I suggest this would end the so called divisiveness in the country.
Mr. Acosta’s pass should be withheld for 30 days (as a first offense).
Once again a good article! Always enjoy your news and commentary.
CNN wasn’t barred, just Mr. Acosta, who is almost always inappropriate. Tough questions are great and to be encouraged, but the nation will survive without hearing Acosta’s opinions on topics of the day as rebuttals to President or Ms. Sanders.
Trump is right.
Acosta treats the women staff appallingly.
CNN is not news, it is entertainment. There is no constitutional protection for entertainers, and certainly not clowns like the appropriately-named Acosta.
We do not need credentialed – Trump can reach the American people directly, without the filter of liberal, entitled entertainers from Columbia.
Sharyl, perhaps you can answer my question. Does the White House Correspondents’ Association have behavior standards? I’m wondering why they defended Acosta’s appalling behavior? Most professional associations have a code of conduct.
Not that I know of. I suggest developing some general parameters!