A duo of leading journalists from the Associated Press reporting on the White House testified on Thursday regarding the repercussions faced by the agency due to President Trump’s choice to cancel access to key West Wing areas for outlets that did not adopt “American Bay” in their popular style guide.
Chief White House correspondent Zeke Miller and top photographer Evan Vucci from the AP described what they term “decreasing” and delayed reporting as the administration prohibited them from being part of the group of journalists covering the president daily.
The two took the stand during legal proceedings to determine whether to reinstate the wire service’s access to pools granted in select parts of the White House, limited spaces such as the Oval Office and travel with the president.
The AP traditionally has reporters and photographers present in the press pool each day, both within the White House and when the president is on the move.
“The Associated Press has been banned multiple times due to our journalism,” Miller stated in court on Thursday.
The Associated Press initiated a lawsuit against three senior White House officials last month after reporters were barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One.
News organizations across the industry utilize guidelines for spelling, grammar, and style as per the AP Stylebook to refer to notable people and places, aiming to establish common references widely understood in the U.S. and globally.
The Associated Press Freedom Group alleges that the Trump administration is effectively attempting to suppress reports it deems inadequately flattering, instilling a chilling atmosphere among mainstream media.
Miller recounted being summoned to White House press secretary Caroline Levitt’s office on February 11th, where he was informed that she was merely a “messenger,” but that the president was dissatisfied with the AP’s refusal to follow the new naming conventions for the Gulf of America.
Trump opted to revoke the Associated Press’s access to the Oval Office until a policy change was made, Levitt informed Miller.
Subsequently, access for AP was even more curtailed.
Following her conversation with Miller concerning Trump’s decision, Levitt declared that the White House would oversee the press pool and determine which outlets could participate. Up to this point, the White House has retained a similar outlet rotation, as the Correspondents Association added an additional two spots, one for television and one for new media.
The administration asserts in its court filing that the AP qualifies for inclusion in the press pool but has not yet been named to serve in that capacity since the White House assumed control of the group.
Both AP reporters testified that their journalism lost the integrity it had when they had full access.
Vucci recalled his own physical presence while traveling with former President George W. Bush as critical to his position as the sole journalist capturing video of the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at Bush.
“We are unaware of what is not visible,” Miller remarked.
The AP attorney highlighted that Vucci documented “a piece of iconic history” last summer. This notably includes the widely circulated image of Trump raising his fist after an attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, which appeared on the cover of his own book, Save America.
However, since the AP’s access was terminated, Vucci lamented, “I can’t do anything because I’m excluded from all events.” He labeled the Associated Press photojournalism as “the gold standard,” and cautioned that Trump’s restriction on wire services significantly impacted his ability to gather historical documentation.
Vucci pointed to an Oval Office meeting last month with Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian videographers freelancing for the AP were allowed in attendance, whereas American AP photojournalists were barred from the meeting.
“When we are impacted negatively, we recognize it instantly — and that occurred today,” he stated.
During cross-examination, Justice Department attorney Brian Hudak referred to a White House function where foreign AP photojournalists or those with licensed agreements were permitted entry. However, AP journalists and attorneys countered that they were not allowed to attend all functions, challenging the government’s assertion that they had access to all tarmac events when the president’s aircraft departed or arrived.
“From a journalism perspective, it’s comprehensive,” Vucci asserted. “You need to be present.”
Miller also addressed the evident chilling effect on other journalists covering the White House, noting that mild tone and tenor in questions posed to the president and other officials were impacted.
Nevertheless, aside from the Associated Press, the same reporting conditions allow staff from the National Independent News Outlet to remain in the White House briefing room during Levitt’s sessions and continue to raise questions to the president during his addresses from the Oval Office and Roosevelt Room, frequently showing favor towards more accommodating media outlets.
The AP attorney Charles Tobin contended that Wire Services journalists wouldn’t assert that the president’s “bullying” had mitigated their effectiveness due to their dedication to independent journalism. Nonetheless, he urged the judges to recognize that the First Amendment would uphold journalists who either support their convictions or “shuffle”;
Meanwhile, AP is executing a pressure campaign against the White House beyond the courtroom.
In a recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal, AP’s executive editor Julie Pace stated that the Wire Services “sought every possible avenue to resolve the matter before resorting to legal action.”
“If we fail to stand up for Americans’ right to free speech, who will?” she questioned. “Currently, the U.S. government aims to control the AP’s expression. Tomorrow, it could seek to limit someone else’s words.”
