Major US media network boycotts coverage of Trump's activities
Four major U.S. television networks, part of the joint press pool covering President Donald Trump’s activities, have decided to suspend their coverage in solidarity with their fellow pool member, CNN, which the U.S. president, along with others, has barred from entering the White House, according to a statement reviewed by the French Press Agency (AFP).
The four networks that announced the suspension of coverage are CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox.
This move comes as CNN, MS Now, and the website Politico filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration after being barred from covering White House events and news, stating that the selective ban constitutes a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Brian Ponton, a Fox representative and coordinator of the group, said, “As of today, the joint television press pool will no longer cover events involving the president that would normally fall within the scope of joint coverage.”
This initiative is unprecedented since the Republican leader returned to power, and follows his decision to bar CNN journalists, MS Now channel, and the news website Politico from entering the White House.
In a statement, the five channels comprising the group noted that “it is vital that the public receives accurate and independent information about the government. No administration should restrict access for a media organization simply because it disagrees with its coverage of events.”
The joint media pool’s role at the White House is to film the U.S. president throughout the day and distribute the resulting footage to other media outlets, based on a rotation principle among the five networks, which are fundamentally competitors.
A similar system is in place for print journalists, news agencies, and photographers; participation in this group ensures privileged access to the U.S. president, while member media outlets commit in return to sharing the images, statements, and notes they collect.
CNN was scheduled to take on the pool’s duties on Monday, as well as during Donald Trump’s visit to New York from Monday to Wednesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings.
Meanwhile, the president has once again escalated his rhetoric, accusing part of the press of being a “national security threat” and comparing it to “cancer.”
