Censoring the Press: White House to ban disruptive reporters under new press pass guidelines

by sam

Samuel Case, FISM News

 

The White House on Friday released new guidelines for reporters in the press briefing room and other events, forcing all journalists to reapply for press passes by July 31. 

To renew their press passes, reporters submit a letter giving their D.C.-area address, a statement saying they’ve accessed the White House at least once in the last six months “or have proof of employment within the last three months to cover the White House,” and be assigned to cover the White House regularly by “an organization whose principal business is news dissemination.”

Journalists will also have to be willing to “submit to any necessary investigation by the U.S. Secret Service to determine eligibility for access to the White House complex” and have proof of “accreditation by a press gallery in either the Supreme Court, U.S. Senate, or U.S. House of Representatives.”

The move comes two days after World Press Freedom Day. Outbursts from Simon Ateba of Today News Africa, who in March repeatedly shouted at White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre for not calling on him, appear to have prompted the changes, but the White House had been considering making the changes prior to Ateba’s interruptions, the New York Post reported.

The White House expects that all hard pass holders will act in a professional manner while on White House grounds by respecting their colleagues, White House employees, and guests; observing stated restrictions on access to areas of the White House or credentialed events; and not impeding events or briefings on campus,” the guidance says.

Reporters who violate these rules will receive a written warning and repeat violators risk losing their press pass. 

Ateba reacted to the news rules tweeting,

I qualify for all those things as we just filed our taxes, are registered with the District of Columbia and have our address in D.C. I studied journalism in college, received two degrees, have only worked as a journalist and trained countless people. I also attend briefings religiously and do not have a second job.

The Trump administration tried and failed to ban disruptive reporters. In 2019, reporter Brian Karem had his press pass temporarily suspended after a heated exchange with Sebastian Gorka, but a federal appeals court ruled that Karem was not given “fair notice” to have his pass suspended. 

CNN reporter Jim Acosta won a similar case after the Trump administration revoked his credentials for refusing to give up his mic to a White House aid during a press conference.

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