Midwest Chick's Place

(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)

–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

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Freedom of the Press does not mean freedom of access

All of the stupid that is burning through the media just shows how privileged and out of touch they are.

Being allowed into the White House Press room or riding on Air Force One are privileges, not rights.

Taking away those privileges does not prevent you from being able to print whatever you want. It just takes away the gravitas of that reporting or the idea that you have heard something from the original source.

The Fourth Estate has gotten too big for its britches. As an example, the White House Correspondents’ Ball. Seriously. There are so many of them that they have their own fancy dress event where the politicos come to schmooze in hopes of good press or to pass on a tasty tidbit, off the record of course.

The fact that the White House, the Pentagon, or any number of federal agencies allow the press to come in and ask questions, or even have offices on the premises, has fed their feeling of importance.

Even if the press have shown themselves to be trustworthy, it is too much.

See B’s post on the subject as well.

Midwest Chick's avatar

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Midwest Chick

12 responses to “Freedom of the Press does not mean freedom of access”

  1. Unferth Avatar
    Unferth

    The worst was the press in the Pentagon. It straight up was spying and leaking classified information.

    Reply
  2. B Avatar
    B

    “Even if the press have shown themselves to be trustworthy….”

    They haven’t.

    Reply
  3. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    Seriously, access to the White House is a privilege? Who owns the place and got to make these decisions? Ask yourself what you’d have said if Biden did the same to FOX. I realize practically speaking all 330 million of us can’t physically be in the place but picking and choosing who gets to come in is favoritism. Equitable would be to put every journalist who wants to be there into a lottery and pick from that. You know, like the government forces us little people to do when we want to get into the White House. Or a popular National Park.

    Reply
    1. Midwest Chick Avatar
      Midwest Chick

      Patrick–Yes it is. And for a very long time it was the White House Correspondents who were making the calls as to who got in and who didn’t. Which reinforced their mania. It was so bad that they had to start putting rules into place because ‘journalists’ were wandering about and were listening to things they had no business hearing because the press passes gave them unfettered and unescorted passes to the entire place. This is a step in the right direction.

  4. Tom235 Avatar
    Tom235

    The press got overly impressed with themselves after Ellsburg, Woodward, and Bernstein. Ever since, seems they figure they’re an official 4th branch of govt with equal powers as the other three.

    Reply
  5. Cappy Avatar
    Cappy

    Yes.

    Reply
  6. Nemo Avatar
    Nemo

    I’ve been posting the “privilege” argument other places ever since Trump took action against them.

    It been past time to put these “think their shit don’t stink” fake news LYING assholes in their place.

    I was of the opinion the Jim Acosta should have been permanently shown the door after that stunt during Trump’s first administration and the Judiciary be damned. Just like now.

    There’s NOTHING in the Constitution or any other law that demands the press have access to the White House or any other government building, let alone have offices or desks in those places. This “privilege” came about during Teddy Roosevelt’s administration and has been tacitly ALLOWED by all President’s since.

    As Jackson once said “He’s made his ruling, how is he going to enforce it?”

    You’re going to hold me in contempt? Then the House is going to impeach me?

    Yah eff off. Stronger message to follow.

    Reply
  7. Gerry Avatar
    Gerry

    I am actually stunned that the press get the access they are used to.

    Reform #1 No daily press briefing. A one page note of the daily activities of POTUS emailed at 0100 every morning.

    Reform #2 Press makes it’s own travel plans.

    Reform #3 Quarterly Press conferences will answer questions submitted in writing 24 hours before the event. No live questions will be answered.

    Reform #4 Any reporter screaming, shouting or being annoying will be removed from the White House beat for 1 month. Second offense 6 months. Third offence means life time ban.

    Don’t even think of asking me to the Nerd Prom.

    MidWest Chick/ Old NFO 2028

    Reply
  8. Old NFO Avatar
    Old NFO

    LOL, I’d be booting ALL their asses from everything permanently!

    Reply
  9. Mark@Bismarck Avatar
    Mark@Bismarck

    A lot of folks seem to be confusing ‘right’ with ‘privilege’ these days. . .

    Reply
  10. anon Avatar
    anon

    No written questions, that’s how you get a picture of Biden holding a card identifying the reporter, their organisation, and what to say in response.

    Reply
  11. TRoy Avatar
    TRoy

    Imagine what a horrible job Press Secretary would be- no matter who it was for.
    Anon- yeah, what is the difference between written questions and a script? None.

    Reply

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