United States of Censorship
Image from the 2016 NYC Women's March. Photo by Jen Packer
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, President Trump’s administration announced it would begin handpicking which media outlets could participate in the presidential press pool to report on the president's daily activities and public orders.
This change breaks decades of precedent and gives the White House more control over what journalists can report on and what the public receives.
But why is this such a big deal? What does this mean for journalism? What about the First Amendment?
This is a monumental precedent as it amounts to direct censorship. Since the president typically holds events and interviews in smaller, more intimate settings, such as the Oval Office, utilizing the pool format ensures that the public is provided with a truthful and accurate record of the president’s precise actions and comments.
Typically, the pool includes journalists from organizations such as CNN, ABC News, Fox News and The New York Times. This decision was yet another attempt by the Trump administration to limit the access and influence of major news organizations that cover the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that this decision was made to return “power to the people”.
As for journalists, they are less than satisfied – to say the least. Former pool reporters, previously approved by the White House Correspondent’s Association (WHCA), which comprises the news outlets covering the White House, stated that the decision “tears at the independence of a free press."
In a statement, the WHCA stated it was not given any information about this decision before the Feb. 25 briefing. Additionally, the entity believes President Trump will meticulously choose the journalist covering him. This, of course, allows for a clear reporting bias or for journalists to toss aside their journalistic integrity.
Many advocates for free speech are deeply concerned about what this means for our democracy, as it is a blatant form of censorship.
Censorship directly violates the First Amendment, which forbids government agencies and officials from regulating and restricting the freedom of expression, including journalism.
Journalism is an expressive art that allows us to connect to the world around us, and right now, it is more important than ever for Americans to stay in touch with what is happening within our government and with our president.
Why does President Trump and his administration so desperately want to control the media? And how does this decision return “power to the people?” Typically, returning power to the people involves expanding rights, not limiting them.
President Trump and his administration have made several controversial decisions in the few weeks he has been in office. The reason we know this for a fact is because journalists have reported as such. Without the press’s ability to write freely and publish their interpretations of a political situation, the American population’s right to the truth will be stripped.
The future of journalism will look a lot different in President Trump’s America, the land of the free, so long as you fully agree with what the president is saying.