Instead of letting the AP back into the press pool, the White House eliminated the guaranteed spot for wire services altogether
  • Liljekonvalj@feddit.org
    0·
    2 months ago

    Wasn’t freedom of speech a huge deal with these guys?.. Now its controlled speech?.. How is this legal? How is this real?

    • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
      0·
      2 months ago

      How is this legal?

      Having a spot in the white house press pool is legally a privilege, not a right. The AP can still operate and write whatever they like, they’re just not invited to exclusive press briefings.

      This is a long-standing conflict of interest that incentivizes the press to field softball questions and avoid writing critical stories in hopes of getting priority treatment from the government, but typically it works in a more subtle way.