This February, the White House revealed that its officials will determine which news outlets are granted regular access to their press pool. This decision arranged for the White House Correspondents’ Association, an association of journalists who cover the White House for an array of news outlets, to no longer determine which outlets are allowed access to the president. These newfound limitations on journalists undermine democratic principles, compromise transparency and erode public trust in government. 

This restriction is particularly concerning given the press’s historical role in holding the government accountable. The infamous investigative reporting during the Watergate scandal set new standards for political accountability and demonstrated the media’s power in uncovering corruption. In this scandal, journalists, particularly those of The Washington Post, investigated a situation where the Democratic National Committee headquarters was broken into. Through their reporting and research, they found that the burglars were part of Richard Nixon’s Committee to re-elect him as President; this evolved into a web of connections and illegal activities. This major report shaped public understanding of government actions, reinforcing the press’s role as a watchdog.

The United States Constitution explicitly states in the First Amendment that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or the press. By filtering what networks are allowed to report from the press pool, the freedom of the press is directly obstructed. In fact, on April 8, a federal judge ordered the Associated Press to be restored to the White House press pool. The court explained how the president’s administration violated the First Amendment through this ruling. The unjust procedure that the court overruled shows the growing instability of the executive branch. When certain media outlets are excluded, it creates a dangerous precedent that allows the government to control the narrative. A truly free press must have equal opportunity to report, question and investigate without fear of censorship. There should be no question about what the press is allowed to publish. As long as there is no libel or slander, the press should have no reason to worry about its words being altered by the government. Nonetheless, this new White House press pool system does just that.

Additionally, a sense of fear is created among the common man. What news are citizens truly receiving? Are they receiving the real story or a filtered perspective from a network hand-picked by a president’s administration? For a country that prides itself on freedom of speech, it is hypocritical for the government to destroy its transparency, allowing real stories to happen behind closed doors. How does an individual make an informed voting decision when they do not have access to news from a variety of sources, each guaranteeing their own point of view? When a citizen cannot make objective decisions about the news they consume, it directly contradicts the foundational principles upon which the United States was built.

Some may argue that limiting certain outlets allows the president’s administration to streamline communications, ensuring the president’s messages are conveyed without distortion. However, this approach ultimately weakens public trust, which is crucial for a healthy democracy. Belief in the media allows for an informed public, and when that trust is broken, skepticism toward both the government and the press increases nationwide.

Citizens must advocate for press freedom and support individual journalism. Civic awareness is more important now than ever before. To ensure one understands the entire narrative, they can fact-check organizations, consume information from primary sources and look for diverse perspectives. While these extra steps may seem burdensome, they are essential for developing a well-informed opinion in a country where the press has been censored. 

A free and open press is the foundation of the United States’ democracy. With the government filtering the news outlets allowed into the White House’s press pool, democracy becomes threatened, the secrecy of the current administration builds and trust among the public is compromised. Individuals must advocate for press freedom and examine the news they receive. By remaining engaged and vigilant, every American has a role to play in protecting the press and, in turn, safeguarding our democracy for generations to come.

This story was originally published on The Howler on April 9, 2025.