Why Every American Should Want a Free and Welcomed Press
When President Donald Trump banned three national media outlets from the White House this month, it set off alarm bells for most journalists. Not because the president was again making a shocking proclamation—that’s just a typical Tuesday in this administration—but because of the precedent it could set for our nation.
One of journalism's key tenets is holding the powerful accountable, and no one is more powerful than a sitting U.S. president. If media outlets are banned, those news organizations can't ask hard questions about his decisions. He chose to exclude CNN, MS Now, and Politico from events because, according to Trump, they report only negative news about him. That’s like telling your boss you don’t want to hear any negative feedback on your job performance—only the positive.
CNN, MS Now, and Politico asked the courts for a two-week restraining order against the ban, and the court granted it. This week, they asked a federal judge to block the ban entirely, calling it an assault on the First Amendment and warning that Trump could simply pull access at will in the future. He hasn’t hidden his desire to see only good news about his work performance, so their worry is not unfounded.
But here’s why voters should want all press to have presidential access: It’s in the Constitution. The government cannot restrict the press or individuals’ right to speak freely. Do you really want a puppet press that reports only good news about how your government is run? Of course not. How would we uncover abuse of power, wasted revenue, or criminal activity such as Watergate? When most Americans are struggling to buy groceries and gas, it’s fair to ask our leaders why we are building a ballroom?
When a News Director hires staff, he or she will strive to build a diverse team representing many religions, races, ages, and genders. That brings viewpoints from all walks of life. A devout Catholic producer could sit next to a Muslim reporter, and that’s healthy! We need to hear opinions unlike our own to find the best stories. The same is true of the White House press corps. Let’s keep those diverse writers asking questions of those we put in power. Remember, the president works for the citizens. He should have enough character to welcome critique on the job, as any American worker must.
Just this week, the news cycle has been packed with important stories that required journalists to uncover—the Cornell University scandal, for one. If you want to keep learning about your world, don’t let your leaders ban reporters. Or soon, you’ll only hear what they want you to hear.
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