https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/oan-white-house-correspondents-coronavirus-160598White House Correspondents’ Association boots OAN from briefing rotation
The rare step, against the Trump-friendly outlet, followed a reporter’s defiance of social-distancing restrictions.
White House briefing room
By CAITLIN OPRYSKO
04/01/2020 08:25 PM EDT
Updated: 04/01/2020 08:37 PM EDT
The White House Correspondents’ Association said on Wednesday it was booting a media outlet from its rotation of news organizations that get seats in the White House briefing room after one of its reporters twice defied social-distancing policies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement emailed out toward the end of Wednesday’s coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, the WHCA board reminded members of its temporary rules, which restrict seating in the room to a rotation of only a little over a dozen journalists a day, separated by more than one seat in the room. The rules also bar journalists from standing along the sides or back of the room, which would typically be packed during a normal briefing.
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“Under this policy, we have asked reporters who don’t have a seat not to attend press briefings,” the board’s note read.
“We are writing to inform you that the WHCA Board has voted this evening to remove a news outlet from the rotation for a seat in the briefing room,” it continued. “We did this because a reporter for this outlet twice attended press briefings in contravention of this policy. We do not take this action lightly. This is a matter of public safety.”
