WHCA Warns That Trump White House Control Of Briefing Room Seating Would Make It “Easier To Exact Punishment” On Outlets Over Their Coverage

deadline.com:

The White House Correspondents’ Association warned today that reports that the Trump administration plans to take control of the seating chart for the briefing room would be another effort to punish journalists over coverage it disfavors.

Axios reported that Trump’s team was considering taking over seating assignments in the cramped briefing room, a task that the WHCA has handled for years.

Major networks, top wire services and print publications now have the front row seats and most often are the first reporters called upon during the press secretary’s regular briefings.

In a note to members today, the WHCA board wrote that “if the White House pushes forward, it will become even more clear that the administration is seeking to cynically seize control of the system through which the independent press organizes itself, so that it is easier to exact punishment on outlets over their coverage.” “The reason the White House wants control of the briefing room is the same reason they took control of the pool: to exert pressure on journalists over coverage they disagree with,” the WHCA board wrote.