White House plans to shake up press room seating chart, likely boot legacy media farther back: report

The White House is planning to shake up the seating arrangement in the press briefing room, a move that may push some legacy media outlets further back, as per a report by Axios.

This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the traditional media’s dominance over White House coverage. The White House intends to take control of the seating chart, a function previously managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association.

While legacy media outlets will still have a place on the seating chart, some may lose their prominent upfront positions, according to a senior White House official. These upfront seats offer reporters more interaction with the White House press secretary, increasing their chances of being called upon for questions and being featured on TV.

The new seating arrangement will include journalists from various media outlets, such as TV, print, and digital platforms, as well as social media influencers and newer organizations like Axios, NOTUS, and Punchbowl. The goal is to restructure the briefing room based on current media consumption trends.

The White House and WHCA have not responded to requests for comments on these proposed changes. The administration’s focus is on evaluating the consumption of coverage by different outlets rather than seeking favorable reporting. The inclusion of influencers is important, although their ability to provide consistent coverage may be a challenge.

In recent months, the White House has taken over control of the reporter pool accompanying President Trump in the Oval Office and on Air Force One, a responsibility previously held by the WHCA. This move came after a dispute between the WHCA and the Associated Press, leading to the exclusion of AP reporters from White House briefings and Air Force One.

The WHCA has discussed potential changes to its bylaws to ensure that the sitting press secretary always serves as the association’s president. These shifts come amid tensions between the White House and mainstream media outlets, with President Trump clashing with reporters from CNN and NBC News.

Additionally, the WHCA has canceled plans for an anti-Trump comedian to host its annual dinner following concerns raised by White House officials. The decision reflects a desire to focus on recognizing outstanding journalistic work and supporting the next generation of journalists.

As the landscape of media coverage continues to evolve, the relationship between the White House and the press remains under scrutiny. The administration’s efforts to reshape the briefing room seating chart and influence media representation reflect a broader shift in how news is consumed and reported. following sentence:

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