On Thursday, a scathing article by Ron Fournier titled, “Obama’s Image Machine: Monopolistic Propaganda Funded by You, at National Journal, took the White House to task for shutting out press photographers from presidential events in favor of official White House photos taken by White House photographer Pete Souza. The article, which received wide play on Thursday, included numerous examples of the superior access Souza has over the press photographers, such as this:
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The frustration is exemplified in the opening anecdote in Fournier’s piece:
Late on Thursday, the White House, as if in response to the criticism, released a photo by Pete Souza — a photo of photojournalists covering the signing of two bills, the Streamlining Claims for Federal Contractor Employees Act, and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments Act of 2013, neither exactly marquee legislative achievements for the president:
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Perhaps the next time Doug Mills enters Jay Carney’s office, he’ll find a framed print of this photo on Carney’s desk.
