Although mass media’s hold has broken down in the 21st century, much of our information comes from just a few sources. Almost imperceptibly, a small group of people influences everything we see. The opening of White House Correspondent seats to the public is a step in the right direction.
The Trump Administration announced it would be opening The White House Correspondents’ Association to applicants on Jan. 29. What was once limited to the select invitees is now available to any applicants. Traditionally, the WHCA exclusively contains staff from major news organizations; following this decision, ordinary citizens may join.
Although journalists in the top 3 main levels of membership must be “employed on the editorial staff” of a newsgathering organization, independent journalists can request media seats, which allow freelancers to cover stories without being on an editorial board.
President Donald Trump’s decision reflects a new age of journalism. Over the past decade, the number of online news influencers and independent journalists has grown. Now, 54% of Americans say they get news from social media. Allowing these independents to join the WHCA both validates their work and expands the WHCA’s audience.
“Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained to the press.
To repair trust with its citizens, the Trump administration is demonstrating that they have nothing to hide. In this way, Trump’s move was both progressive and strategic. By opening the press briefing room, he encourages the perception of credibility. Distrust in legacy media has grown in the past decade. If the Trump administration is being covered by a wide spectrum of reporters, news may seem more trustworthy.
Many news organizations have turned up their noses at Trump’s announcement. The Free Press says that the president’s club of journalists was once “proper.”
“Think: wooden panels, think: Scotch, think: ink,” Nellie Bowles wrote Jan. 31. She painted a picture of a dark room, tenured journalists sipping liquor in privilege, contrasting it with “Hooters and a BA in communications.”
Many media organizations encourage us to believe that opening up media seats is negative. But will much really change? The administration has always chosen the members of the WHCA. This is still the case. Independent journalists now have an equal opportunity to report alongside correspondents from major corporations.Rather than detracting from the exclusivity of the club, this move continues to offer positions to the best of the best.
The WHCA won’t suddenly be home to bad poets and journalism rejects. Rather, Trump gives a new avenue to nontraditional but highly influential news reporters. This can only improve the quality and credibility of the press.
Charlotte Knobloch is a freshman studying the liberal arts.
