No White House Photos Allowed

One of the hallmarks of a free society is a free press. However, that is something this administration doesn't appear to respect. A couple of weeks ago, more than three dozen news organizations and trade associations, including the major TV networks and the NY Times, sent a letter of protest to the Obama administration for barring access to photographers who cover the White House.

Citing several examples of newsworthy White House meetings which were closed off to press photographers, the letter stated that these restrictions "raise constitutional concerns".  Instead, the White House chose to release official photos, taken by the White House photographer. The letter also stated, "as surely as if they were placing a hand over a journalist's camera lens, officials in this administration are blocking the public from having an independent view of important functions of the Executive Branch of government."  http://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2013/11/media-protest-white-house-limits-on-photographers.html

According to J. David Ake, the assistant bureau chief for photos at The Associated Press, in speaking about the official WH photographer, "the core issue is the White House uses his images and disseminates them to the public, and they become the only historical document of events."  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/us/politics/limit-on-access-stirs-tensions-between-white-house-photographer-and-press-corps.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This manipulation by the administration to control what the public sees, violates one of the most important measures of a free society; that of a free press. Without this, we allow the government to simply release propaganda.