New Delhi: Major US television networks have stopped providing shared video coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House prevented CNN from
carrying out its scheduled role in the presidential television pool on Monday.
Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News jointly announced that they would not provide a replacement crew for the pool. The decision came after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its grounds, accusing the outlets of publishing what it called “fake news”.
In a joint statement, the five networks said, “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting.”
CNN was scheduled for Monday pool duty
The television pool allows major broadcasters to share the cost and responsibility of filming presidential events. One network takes the lead on a particular day and provides footage that can then be used by the other broadcasters.
CNN was scheduled to handle the pool on Monday including coverage of Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The White House, however, prevented the network from carrying out that assignment.
Instead of replacing CNN, the other networks decided to suspend the shared pool coverage of presidential events. This does not mean ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC or CNN have stopped reporting on Trump or his administration. Their journalists can still cover events from locations where they have access.
CNN, MS NOW And Politico take dispute to court
The television networks’ decision came on the same day CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced legal action against the Trump administration. The three organisations are seeking to restore their access to the White House and argue that the restrictions violate their First Amendment rights.
The outlets said their journalists were denied entry to the White House on Saturday and had their press credentials revoked. They have continued reporting from outside the complex.
Trump announced the ban on Friday and accused the three outlets of publishing false reports. He later defended the decision, saying it was aimed at what he described as “FAKE NEWS” rather than the free press.
The dispute has now affected the routine system used by major US television networks to provide footage of the president. With no replacement crew for CNN, some presidential events will no longer have the usual shared television feed.
