REAL TALK

NEWS POLITICS

New White House Rules for Press Access Spark Outrage Among Journalists

ByAlki David

May 8, 2023

The White House has recently released new requirements for press access to White House grounds and presidential events, leading to a lot of controversy and concern among journalists. The new rules mandate that reporters work for “an organization whose principal business is news dissemination,” and they must submit a letter to gain access to the briefing room.

This change in policy comes after repeated outbursts and unprofessional behavior from reporters like Simon Ateba during White House briefings. Many journalists have criticized the Biden administration for not allowing fair representation in the briefing room, and they have raised concerns about the unfair access to events. These latest rules seem to be an attempt to address these criticisms.

However, not everyone is happy about this new policy. Many journalists fear that these rules could be used to limit press access and control the narrative coming out of the White House. The concern is that only certain journalists, deemed “safe” by the administration, will be granted access, while others will be left out.

This move also comes days after World Press Freedom Day, which has highlighted the importance of a free press in our democracy. Some see the new rules as a threat to that freedom and an attempt to silence voices that are critical of the administration.

In conclusion, while the new rules are meant to ensure order and decorum in the briefing room, they have caused a lot of concern among journalists who fear that their access and freedom to report will be limited. As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, it is more important than ever to protect the rights of journalists and ensure that they have fair and equal access to the institutions of power.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.