‘New media’ influencers take up White House offer of press credentials
The White House recently announced an initiative to expand the press pool to include “new media” reporters and influencers, a move applauded by many independent journalists, podcasters, and social media content creators. This expansion, led by newly appointed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, aims to engage with a broader audience, especially young people who prefer option news sources over traditional media. Leavitt emphasized the need to adapt to the evolving media landscape and invited independent journalists to apply for press credentials.
The proclamation sparked excitement among various influencers, with figures like Scott presler, Benny Johnson, and james O’Keefe expressing thier intent to apply for press credentials. some influencers even encouraged each other to seek credentials, debating the implications of “new media” in the white House press corps. However, the initiative has faced criticism from traditional media figures, including co-hosts of ABC’s “The View,” who raised concerns about the qualifications of these new media personalities. They argued that the inclusion of influencers could undermine journalistic standards and perpetuate misinformation.
‘New media’ influencers take up White House offer of press credentials
“New media” reporters and influencers cheered the White House’s announcement on Tuesday that it was expanding the press pool in the White House press briefing to podcasters, independent journalists, and social media influencers.
“In keeping with this revolutionary media approach that President Trump deployed during the campaign, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room,” President Donald Trump‘s new White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said on Tuesday.
“Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media and other independent outlets,” Leavitt continued.
She added that the White House’s James S. Brady Press Briefing Room would be opened up to “new media voices who produce news-related content,” allowing them to sit with the traditional press corps.
“It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt our White House to the new media landscape in 2025,” she said.
“If you’re an independent journalist, podcaster, social media influencer, or content creator who meet the criteria — apply to come join us!” Leavitt wrote on the X platform.
Hey @RealAlexJones you need to apply bruh 🤣
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) January 29, 2025
Content creators responded to the announcement on Tuesday with their declarations of signing up for a press credential or shared their interest in applying.
Activist Scott Presler, a conservative influencer who helped Trump win Pennsylvania, announced on Tuesday that he was applying for briefing credentials.
“If I am chosen for the White House press briefings, I will do my best to sit near Kaitlan Collins. My hair will be done,” he added in an X post.
If I am chosen for the White House press briefings, I will do my best to sit near Kaitlan Collins.
My hair will be done.
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) January 28, 2025
“Today, I officially registered for a White House Press Credential. Our show beats the corporate media every day in viewers. Thank you to the White House for recognizing the power of independent news. Our audience is real and we speak for the people.What do you want me to ask?” conservative commentator Benny Johnson said on X.
“The Babylon Bee has applied for White House press credentials,” Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon responded on X.
The Babylon Bee has applied for White House press credentials. https://t.co/sPKxYwcyA9 pic.twitter.com/eYAlSDNxDC
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) January 29, 2025
Independent investigative journalist James O’Keefe announced that he, too, applied on Tuesday.
“Applied for White House press credentials today. Let’s see what happens,” he said on X.
Applied for White House press credentials today. Let’s see what happens. 👀 @karolineleavitt
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 29, 2025
Other social media influencers showed interest in the prospect of applying or were lobbied by other content creators to apply.
Chaya Raichik, creator of the popular “Libs of Tiktok” X account, asked her followers if she should apply, to which many of her fans replied with the responses “obviously” and “absolutely.”
Should I apply for White House press credentials 👀
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) January 28, 2025
“Hey @RealAlexJones you need to apply bruh,” the Hodge Twins, X influencers with over 3.2 million followers, said on X to Alex Jones, who has 4 million X followers on his account.
Jones hinted that he was invited to go the White House “next week” and asked his fans if he should “go to D.C.” The majority of his fans encouraged him to join the White House press corps.
Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon’s popular War Room video podcast, posted a picture of herself in front of the White House with the title of “White House correspondent.”
Firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos floated his interest to fans by asking if he should apply.
Leavitt also announced that the White House will be restoring the press credentials of 440 journalists whose passes were “wrongly revoked” by the previous administration.
On Wednesday, ABC’s The View scoffed at the prospect of “new media” joining the White House press corps.
“So instead of Bob Woodward, they want Kim Kardashian? I don’t get it,” Joy Behar mocked the new media plan.
Co-host Sunny Hostin ripped the White House’s choice to add influencers to the White House press briefing.
“We understand their criteria is woefully deficient and unserious. I think that their real problem in this election, one of the real problems among the many, is the misinformation and disinformation that was disseminated on social media by these influencers and by these podcasters,” Hostin said on Wednesday.
“Why are they qualified to sit in front — in the White House briefing room and tell America what is going on with the country?” she continued. “Traditionally to become a White House correspondent or to be in that briefing room, you had to have a journalism degree and qualifications so I guess the rise of mediocrity is here to stay!”
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