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NEWS POLITICS

Press Freedom at Risk: White House Access Dwindles as Journalists Lose Hard Passes

ByAlki David

Aug 9, 2023

In an unprecedented shift that has sent shockwaves through the media industry, the corridors of power in Washington D.C. have grown less accessible for journalists. Over the course of the last quarter, a staggering 31% decline in the number of reporters holding the coveted “hard pass” has been witnessed. The repercussions of this decline are profound, stemming from a set of new regulations that came into force this week, amid a backdrop of controversy and debate.

One of the prominent names caught in the crossfire is none other than The Daily Signal’s Fred Lucas. A distinguished White House press corps member, Lucas found himself on the list of reporters slated to lose their esteemed White House press credentials. However, an eleventh-hour respite came in the form of a 10-day extension, allowing him the opportunity to meet the stringent requirements imposed by the new guidelines. The White House now mandates reporters to secure press credentials from either the Congress or the Supreme Court, adding an extra layer of complexity to an already intricate process. As we await Lucas’ fate, the journalism community remains on edge, uncertain about the future.

The story doesn’t end with Lucas; it unfolds into a broader narrative involving Simon Ateba, the dedicated White House correspondent for Today News Africa. Ateba, like the 441 other reporters who have found themselves stripped of their credentials, is now barred from attending the pivotal White House press briefings and navigating the sprawling Pennsylvania Avenue campus. Their potential re-entry into the inner sanctums of power hinges on obtaining a “temporary day pass,” a privilege that now seems both elusive and vital.

This seismic shift in the realm of press access stems from the White House’s announcement in May, heralding a new era in media interactions. The objective behind the move is to curtail the number of journalists eligible for the revered hard pass. While the doors aren’t entirely shut, reporters have been relegated to applying for a day pass, a task that demands a daily renewal and rigorous scrutiny by the Secret Service.

Curiously, the revelation of the actual numbers had been shrouded in mystery until now. Politico’s recent exposé sheds light on the situation, disclosing, “Within the past three months, the number of hard pass holders dropped from 1,417 to 975, with those approved reflecting a mix of renewals and new applications.” This disclosure pulls back the curtain on the magnitude of the transformation that has unfolded behind the scenes.

The consequences of this paradigm shift are yet to fully manifest, but they undoubtedly underscore a critical juncture in the media landscape. The retrenchment of access to the White House raises pressing questions about transparency, accountability, and the role of journalism in a democracy. As journalists navigate these uncertain waters, one thing remains clear: the ever-evolving relationship between the media and those in power continues to shape the course of our nation’s narrative.

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.