WASHINGTON – A large number of White House reporters have been excluded from President Biden’s press corps holiday parties for the second year in a row, prompting claims that journalists are being punished for their coverage.
Invitations to a pair of media parties (one for TV crews on Friday and another for print and radio reporters scheduled for December 6) went out about two weeks ago, and as of noon Monday, a possible second level of invitations recycled from those. Whoever refused had not been delivered.
The exclusions affect a diverse group of outlets, including The Post, which has reported extensively on Biden’s ties to his son and brother’s foreign businesses, as well as reporters known for their sharp questions who work for titles that support the Democrats.
“If you’re hosting a press reception, invite the entire press corps or just call it what it is, a private party for your friends,” said a long-time snubbed White House reporter who works for a major media outlet. not conservative. .
The parties offer intimate interactions with the president and informal opportunities to chat with officials over champagne in the East Room, as well as lavish seafood and dessert buffets in the State Dining Room, a kind of soft access while the press corps also scrambles for to get it. in hard news events, which under the Biden government have presented a pre-selection initiative that continues to impact some media.
Photographers take pictures of the White House decorations during the 2023 holiday media preview at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP via Getty Images
Biden advisers said last year that some snubs were in error, citing incorrect email addresses or an outdated press list.
This year no such explanations were offered and a new press list was used, as this time at least two people who were not initially invited last year were invited.
“They use it as bait to gain access,” said a second snubbed White House reporter, who also works for an outlet whose editorial alignment leans to the left.
“It’s basically become a pay-to-play system,” complained a third, who said his outlet clashed with Biden’s advisers over a recent report that the White House didn’t like.
Some White House reporters have been excluded from President Biden’s press corps holiday parties for the second year in a row. REUTERS
“To gain access, one must be willing to spend money to report on the ‘stories’ the press office wants, including the first lady’s ‘silly stories,’ such as Christmas decorations and state dinner menus,” this reporter said. , whose media No leans Republican.
“If you go against the press team, not only will your reporters and news editors be excluded from social events, but they will also be threatened with a lack of future access to high-profile members of the administration with whom they communicate.” it is necessary to speak. to be able to do your job. This includes not being quoted in daily press conferences.”
The journalist added that “earlier this year, our outlet was personally asked to retract a story that the White House press office considered unfair. Our refusal resulted in punitive action. Since then, access to senior administration officials has been severely restricted, not to mention a lack of invitations to games.”
Guests await President Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inside a brightly decorated tent for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC. The Washington Post via Getty Images Many outlets, including The Post, have been excluded from the guest list. AFP via Getty Images
The journalist noted on May 3 of this year that Biden marked World Press Freedom Day by saying he would “hold accountable all those who seek to silence these voices essential to transparent and trustworthy governance.”
“Unfortunately, apparently that doesn’t include his own press office,” the source added.
Journalists from outlets whose opinion content is conservative were more than willing to officially acknowledge that they were snubbed, including reporters from the Washington Examiner, Newsmax and the Catholic channel EWTN, each of whom has an assigned seat in the meeting room.
Newsmax’s James Rosen, who has attended White House Christmas parties since the 1990s, said the snubs were unnecessary.
Visitors look at the White House, which is decorated for the holidays. AFP via Getty Images
“The Clintons, Bushes, Obamas and Trumps welcomed me for Christmas as a member in good standing of the White House Correspondents Association and as a reporter who covered them fairly. Only the Biden White House has shown such pettiness at the holidays,” Rosen said.
“The American people shouldn’t care if a certain journalist attends a certain party, but they do like to see magnanimity in their presidents… and a certain toughness of skin. Maybe next year.”
Unaffiliated journalists, who make up a sizable component of the White House press corps, were also affected, with Serbian-born self-editor Ksenija Pavlovic saying that “Biden’s press shop has failed American independent journalism.” ”.
But Mark Knoller, a former CBS News reporter highly respected for his presidential record, said of the White House: “It’s their party, they can invite whoever they like and whoever they don’t like.”
It has been claimed that the lack of invitations suggests that journalists are being punished for their coverage. AP
At a Christmas party, President George W. Bush “used the reception line to complain about my visitor count to his Texas ranch,” recalled Knoller, who began covering the White House during Gerald Ford’s administration in mid-2000. the 1970s.
“I never found the parties to be of much value except to impress my guests who never got to see the White House,” Knoller said, “[and] In later years, I got tired of the parties and stopped going.”
Presidents traditionally pose for photographs with journalists and their companions, who are generally parents, children, relatives or other important people.
Donald Trump did not host press parties after 2017 and the lack continued during the COVID-19 pandemic until last year.
“I remember there were always some reporters who weren’t invited and they resented it,” added Knoller, who said he believed the White House routinely “found some reporters irritating and unworthy of an invitation.”
“The Biden administration is certainly no different than the Trump administration in terms of who they invite to their Christmas party,” said the second journalist who spoke to The Post. “They exclude people they don’t want to mix with.”
It’s unclear exactly how many people attend the parties, although reporters have noted that many invited journalists are not assigned to cover the White House and that other attendees are simply friends of West Wing officials.
A White House official said last-minute invitations may eventually reach some journalists, likely as a result of initial invitees answering “no.”
The Dec. 6 evening for print and radio journalists will be held on a Wednesday night and conflicts with the fourth debate of the Republican presidential primaries, which many journalists are required to cover. The TV party, on the other hand, will be held on Friday night and is expected to attract celebrity presenters and New York executives.
“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of print, radio and television journalists from outlets large and small, and their guests, to the White House holiday parties this year,” the White House official said.
“We do our best to accommodate as many people as possible, including most of the reporters, producers, photographers and videographers who cover the White House every day.
“Invitations will continue to be sent out in the coming days and we encourage people to contact our team directly if they have any questions.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn