President Trump’s White House sent a clear message to major media outlets on Monday: You don’t matter as much anymore.
The White House for years has deferred to newswires and major TV networks, all of whom are represented in the first row of the White House briefing room, for the first several questions at the daily briefing. But on Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer called on very different group of reporters.
He first called on the New York Post. Then, the Christian Broadcasting Network. That was followed by Univision and Fox Business.
Spicer then took a question from Urban Radio Network, and then finally the Associated Press, which up until now has usually gotten the first question.
Fox News was next, followed by ABC.
Under Obama, the AP and Reuters had gotten the first shot at questions each day, followed by networks like NBC, ABC and CBS.
The unprecedented decision ruffled the feathers of some. NBC’S Kelly O’Donnell said Spicer was skipping over major news outlets that cover the White House all day, every day.
Only handful of news organizations keep staff on duty inside WH 7 days a week, 12 plus hours a day. None given question yet
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) January 23, 2017
She tweeted later that the mainstream serves “the most Americans with expertise, depth of commitment to fair coverage.”
Matters because they serve the most Americans with expertise, depth of commitment to fair coverage. A non profit at center of a free press https://t.co/TepjlZ2ZTj
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) January 23, 2017
Trump famously battled the media during his election, and has said many outlets didn’t tell the truth about his campaign. Spicer has said since Trump’s election victory that he would be looking to do press briefings differently, and hinted that he would likely call on a different group of reporters.
He also announced that he would include “Skype seats” in the briefing so reporters not located in Washington can ask questions.
