The battle between White House and the journalism community has escalated.
Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog, has launched a public petition which demands that the White House Correspondents’ Association “stand in solidarity against Trump’s blacklist.”
The organization is referring to CNN reporter Jim Acosta, who lost his White House press credentials following a heated exchange with President Trump on Wednesday, and a follow-up charge that Mr. Acosta became physical with a White House intern. He denies that charge.
“If Trump blacklists or bans one of you, the rest of you need to stand up,” the petition reads. “Instead of ignoring Trump’s bad behavior and going about your business, close ranks and stand up for journalism. Don’t keep talking about what Trump wants to talk about. Stand up and fight back. Amplify your colleague’s inquiry or refuse to engage until he removes that person/outlet from the blacklist.”
The petition, launched through MoveOn.org, has already garnered over 330,000 signatures.
“The White House Press Correspondents Association exists to advance the interests of and protective the White House Press Corps and right now, they freedom of the press is in jeopardy. They need to act,” said Angelo Carusone, who authored the petition and is president of Media Matters for America.
“Reporters need to make it a matter of policy that if one of their members if blacklisted, that the rest of the White House Press Corps will line up in solidarity — and either refuse to participate in White House press events or only ask questions on behalf of the banned reporter/outlet until the ban is lifted,” he said.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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