CNN’s Jim Acosta may have been the most vocal this week about the White House communications team’s decision to curtail press briefings, including mandating that audio and/or video not be used. But he’s not alone.
On Thursday, White House Correspondents’ Association president Jeff Mason met with press secretary Sean Spicer and deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to discuss the issue. This morning he sent a letter to all members: “We believe strongly that Americans should be able to watch and listen to senior government officials face questions from an independent news media, in keeping the principles of the First Amendment and the need for transparency.”
WHCA note on White House briefings. pic.twitter.com/V9o2z4SXDi
Advertisement— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) June 23, 2017
- Earlier on TVNewser: “It’s Not Like We’re Covering a White House. It’s Like We’re Covering Bad Reality TV”
“Sean and Sarah agreed to consider these positions and the board will follow up with them in the coming day,” Mason wrote. “We are not satisfied with the current state-of-play, and we will work hard to change it. In the meantime, I have asked that reporters be able to use audio from all gaggles going forward.”