“We’re opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room.
We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House.
And you can apply now on our new website, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia,”
-- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Trump has repeatedly criticised traditional media as the "enemy of the people", and he credits a series of podcast appearances for aiding his return to the White House.
After this shake up, the 49 seats in the James S Brady Briefing Room is no longer going to be allotted exclusively to news organisations, or “the legacy media” as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt termed them.
The applications will be screened by the White House team. Those who meet the required criteria and pass United States Secret Service requirements will then receive the credentials to enter the White House complex.
NEW MEDIA = MAGA SUPPORTERS ONLY?
On one hand, the White House has announced that “the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities”. But the screening of podcasters and TikTokers for the job would likely weed out those who are or have been anti-Trump.
As per a recent report by the Associated Press, job-seekers hoping to join the new Trump administration are facing a series of intense loyalty tests, and negative social media posts have been enough to derail their applications.
The report mentioned that those seeking jobs have been told they will have to prove their “enthusiasm” to enact Trump's agenda and have been asked when their moment of “MAGA revelation” occurred.
In that case, what about those who are hoping to be part of the new media?
Karoline Leavitt cited a poll from Gallup and claimed that the Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to a record low. “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,” she said.
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