The White House press corps is “strenuously” objecting to any attempt to eject it from its West Wing digs, a move reportedly being considering by President-elect Trump’s communications team.
“The briefing room is open now to all reporters who request access. We support that and always will,” said Jeff Mason, a Reuters White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents Association. “The WHCA will fight to keep the briefing room and West Wing access to senior administration officials open. We object strenuously to any move that would shield the president and his advisers from the scrutiny of an on-site White House press corps.”
Esquire reported the Trump team was considering kicking reporters out of the briefing room and their press digs to another place in the White House complex.
Mason said he and Spicer talked for nearly two hours about what press briefings will look like under Trump.
The line from the Trump camp on Sunday was that increased press participation in Trump press conferences would likely continue when he takes office, so a bigger space is needed. Mason said access to the White House itself is also needed.
“The White House Correspondents’ Association has always advocated for increasing access and transparency for the benefit of all news outlets and the public,” Mason said. “I emphasized the importance of the White House press briefing room and noted that it is open to all journalists who seek access now.
“I made clear that the WHCA would view it as unacceptable if the incoming administration sought to move White House reporters out of the press workspace behind the press briefing room. Access in the West Wing to senior administration officials, including the press secretary, is critical to transparency and to journalists’ ability to do their jobs.”
He said Spicer agreed to discuss any major changes with the White House Correspondents Association ahead of time.
Spicer also wants journalists to have a “high level of decorum” at briefings.
“Sean expressed concern that journalists adhere to a high level of decorum at press briefings and press conferences. I made clear that the WHCA would object, always, to a reporter being thrown out of a briefing or press conference,” Mason said.
He added, “The WHCA looks forward to having a constructive relationship with the president-elect’s press team and to standing up for the rights of a free press to report vigorously on the new administration.”
