Journalist Groups Ask Trump To Preserve News Media Access To The Presidency

Letter Writers

Fifteen journalism organizations have sent a letter to President-elect TRUMP asking him to preserve traditional access to the presidency by news media. The letter was signed by the leaders of the NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB JOURNALISM INSTITUTE, SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWS EDITORS, RTDNA/RTDNF, REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS/RSF, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, NATIONAL PRESS FOUNDATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS, NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ JOURNALISTS, THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MEDIA FOUNDATION, and the REGIONAL REPORTERS ASSOCIATION.

In the letter, which opened with the hope that the groups could "work with you to perpetuate one of this nation's great strengths: our freedom of the press," the organizations said that they "expect that you will preserve longstanding traditions that ensure coverage of the TRUMP presidency," specifically the press pool dating back to the FDR administration. "The role of the press pool is critically important to our country, whose citizens depend on and deserve to know what the president is doing," the letter read. "This isn't about access for the press itself, it's about access for Americans in diverse communities across the country. Your constituents receive information from a variety of platforms to learn about what our president is doing ... We call on you to commit to a protective press pool from now until the final day of your presidency. We respectfully ask you to instill a spirit of openness and transparency in your administration in many ways but first and foremost via the press pool."

The letter also calls for access "via regular press conferences and pool sprays and to your key decision-makers," and improved response rates to Freedom of Information Act requests. "A great AMERICA depends on having sunlight on its leaders," the letter concludes. "We expect the traditions of WHITE HOUSE press coverage to be upheld whether in WASHINGTON or elsewhere. Again we, a joint group of diverse journalism associations, speak as one as we respectfully ask that you take these steps to ensure access to our members covering your administration."

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