CNN hosted a debate in Atlanta between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, closing it to all journalists except those specified by the network.
New York Post reported that the White House Correspondents’ Association criticized CNN's decision to exclude non-CNN journalists from the event.
On June 28, 2024, the association's president, Kelly O'Donnell, voiced significant concerns regarding CNN's restrictive access to the debate, arguing it infringes upon long-standing principles of presidential coverage. "WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio," stated O'Donnell.
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns had agreed to the inclusion of the White House press pool, yet CNN chose to limit access, constraining coverage to its staff and a select group of journalists during brief intermissions.
This particular debate featured two innovative control measures: no live audience and microphone muting after a candidate's speaking time had expired. Despite the presidential campaigns' openness to more inclusive media coverage, CNN maintained a controlled environment, closely regulating the presence of media personnel.
The decision allowed a limited number of photographers to enter the studio only during specific periods. Furthermore, a print pool reporter was permitted to enter only during a commercial break, which the WHCA deemed insufficient for substantial coverage.
The exclusion prompted comprehensive debates on media freedom, with O'Donnell articulating that such limitations diminish foundational reporting principles. She emphasized, "The White House pool has to document, report, and witness the president’s events and his movements on behalf of the American people."
Here is a particularly telling quote from Kelly O'Donnell:
"Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the production of the debate. That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage."
CNN released a statement highlighting its respect for the WHCA yet did not shift its stance on media access. "As proud members of the White House Correspondents Association, we respect the role the organization plays and their support for press freedom and access," CNN stated.
Moreover, CNN described its coverage strategy, explaining that it made the feed available to Washington Pool Members, Washington Pool subscribers, and CNN Affiliates. It was also available to embed via CNN’s YouTube channel without charge for digital outlets and on CNN.com.
This delineation of access oversaw how the debate's coverage represented to the public, focusing solely on the broadcasted feed and potentially missing untelevised interactions and off-mic discussions.
Outside the CNN studios in Atlanta, where the debate was held on June 28, 2024, signage was noted a day prior. This setup was indicative of the high-profile nature of the event, yet contrasted sharply with the limited press access allowed. By limiting journalist participation, CNN's approach to this presidential debate has sparked a significant discussion on the balance between exclusive coverage rights and broader press freedom—a debate likely to continue as the political season progresses.
The incident underscores the ongoing debates about press access and transparency in crucial public events and raises questions about the implications of such decisions on democratic accountability and the public's right to comprehensive media coverage.
