WASHINGTON — A large number of White House reporters were excluded from President Biden’s press corps Christmas party for the second year in a row — prompting claims that reporters are being punished for their coverage.
Invitations to a pair of traditional media parties – one for the TV team to be held on Friday and another for print and radio journalists scheduled for December 6 – were issued about two weeks ago.
As of Monday afternoon, the second round of invitations had not been sent.
The exclusion affects a wide range of outlets — including The Post, which has reported extensively on Biden’s links to the foreign business dealings of his son and brother, as well as reporters known for their sharp questions who work for Democratic-leaning titles.
“If you’re hosting a reception for the press, invite the entire press corps or just call it a private party for your friends,” says one longtime White House reporter who works for a large liberal-leaning organization. outlets.
The parties offer intimate interactions with the president and informal opportunities to chat with officials over champagne in the East Room, as well as a sumptuous buffet of scallops and desserts in the State Dining Room — the kind of easy access that the press corps struggles to get into. hard news event, which under Biden has featured pre-screening initiatives that continue to impact multiple outlets.
Biden aides have said in the past year that some detractors have made mistakes, citing incorrect email addresses or out-of-date newspaper lists.
No such explanation was offered this year and a new press list was used — as at least two people who were initially not invited last year were invited this time.
“They’re using it as bait for access,” said a second White House correspondent, who also works for an outlet whose editorial alignment leans left.
“It’s basically turned into a pay-to-play system,” lamented a third person, who said their non-conservative outlet tangled with Biden aides over recent reports the White House didn’t like.
“To get access, you must be willing to spend money to report the ‘stories’ the press office wants – including the first lady’s ‘fluffy stories’ like Christmas decorations and state dinner menus,” this scribe said.
“If you go against the press team, not only are your reporters and news editors shut out of social events, but you’re also threatened with a lack of future access to high-profile members of the administration who need to speak with them. to do your job. This includes not being called in the daily press briefing.”
The reporter added that “earlier this year, our outlet was personally asked to retract a story it deemed unfair by the White House press office. Our refusal resulted in punitive action. Since then, access to senior administration officials has been severely restricted, not to mention the lack of invitations party.”
The journalist noted on May 3 this year that Biden marked World Press Freedom Day by stating that he would “hold accountable all those who seek to silence these voices that are essential to transparent and credible governance.”
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to include his own press office,” he added.
Reporters for outlets whose opinion content skews conservative are more than willing to admit on the record that they have been slighted, including reporters for the Washington Examiner, Newsmax and the Catholic channel EWTN, each of which has an assigned briefing room seat.
Newsmax’s James Rosen, who has attended White House holiday parties since the 1990s, said that was unnecessary.
“The Clintons, the Bushes, the Obamas and the Trumps all welcomed me at Christmas as a member in good standing of the White House Correspondents’ Association and a journalist who covered fairly. Only the Biden White House exhibits that kind of pettiness on the holidays,” Rosen said.
“Americans shouldn’t care whether certain reporters attend certain parties, but they do like to see generosity in their president — and a certain toughness of skin. Maybe next year.”
Unaffiliated journalists, who make up a large component of the White House press corps, were also affected, with Serbian-born self-publisher Ksenija Pavlovic saying that “Biden’s press shop has failed independent American journalism.”
But Mark Knoller, a former CBS News correspondent widely respected for his presidential record-keeping, said of the White House: “It’s their party, they can invite who they like and don’t like.”
At a holiday party, then-President George W. Bush “used the receiver line to complain to me about my account of his visit to his Texas ranch,” said Knoller, who began covering the White House during the Gerald Ford administration in the mid-1970s. .
“I’ve never found a party worth much except to impress my guests who have never seen the White House,” Knoller recalls, “[and] in later years, I got tired of parties and stopped going.”
Presidents traditionally pose for pictures with reporters and their extras, who are usually proud parents, children, family members or significant others.
Donald Trump didn’t host a press conference after 2017 and continued exclusion through the COVID-19 pandemic until last year.
“I remember there were always some reporters who didn’t get invited and hated it,” added Knoller, who added that he believes the White House typically “finds some reporters annoying and undeserving of an invite.”
“The Biden administration is certainly no different than the Trump administration when it comes to who they invite to their Christmas party,” said a second reporter who spoke to The Post. “They exclude people they don’t want to associate with.”
It was unclear how many people attended the party, though beat reporters noted that many of the reporters invited were not assigned to cover the White House and that other attendees were fellow West Wing officials.
A White House official said last-minute invitations may end up being sent to some reporters — possibly as a result of early invitations RSVP-ing “no.”
The Dec. 6 soiree for print and radio reporters is on Wednesday night and conflicts with the fourth Republican presidential primary debate, which many reporters must cover. The TV party, on the other hand, is on Friday night and is expected to attract celebrity anchors and executives from New York.
“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of print, radio and TV reporters from outlets large and small – and their guests – to this year’s White House holiday party,” a White House official said.
“We are doing our best to accommodate as many people as possible, including the majority of reporters, producers, photographers and cameramen who cover the White House every day.
“Invitations will continue to go out in the coming days and we encourage people to contact our team directly with any questions.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
