NYT Issues Statement on Biden's 'Troubling' Avoidance of Journalists
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The New York Times (Lean Left bias) issued a statement Thursday criticizing President Joe Biden for avoiding the press.
The Statement: "For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term," the statement reads. "Systematically avoiding interviews and questions from major news organizations doesn’t just undermine an important norm, it also establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to avoid scrutiny and accountability."
For Context: "Based on sheer numbers, Biden makes himself available for formal news conferences roughly half as much as any president since Reagan," according to our analysis of data from the American Presidency Project. "The Biden administration overall interacts with the press more than most past administrations. But much of it is either informal, or is Biden’s staff taking (and deflecting) questions instead of him."
How the Media Covered It: On the same day as the Times's statement, Politico (Lean Left bias) published an analysis of the "petty feud" between the Times and the Biden White House, suggesting that Biden's team sees the Times "falling short in a make-or-break moment for American democracy," while some at the Times say the White House has tried to "control its coverage." On the right, sources like Fox News (Right) highlighted the Times's "blistering statement" about Biden's "unprecedented lack of media access."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
NYT blasts Biden for avoiding interviews
The New York Times issued a scorching statement on Thursday blasting President Joe Biden for avoiding media interviews as establishing a “dangerous precedent,” as liberals criticized the paper in response to a POLITICO report detailing friction between the Times and the White House.
The Times in a statement called it “troubling” that Biden “has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term.”
The New York Times issued the statement as reporters for the publication also pushed back on the POLITICO story, which detailed the tense relationship between the...
From the Left
A Statement From The New York Times on Presidential News Coverage For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term. The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess his record and hold him to account.
Mr. Biden has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors....
From the Right
New York Times blasts Biden for 'avoiding questions' from journalists in blistering statement
The New York Times released a blistering statement calling out President Biden for his unprecedented lack of media access during his first term in office.
"For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term," the Times began its statement. "The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess...
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