FL library refuses NY Times subscription - cites "Fake News"

A library wanted a New York Times subscription. Officials refused, citing Trump and 'fake news.'

Trump threatens journalist with prison

Trump threatens reporter with prison time during interview

Trump advocates boycott to punish CNN over coverage

Trump urges customers to drop AT&T to punish CNN over its coverage of him

Trump ends White House press briefings

Trump: I told Sanders to stop briefings because press covers her 'rudely'

Trump calls for state-run news network

President Trump has said the United States should launch a government-run media organization to compete with private news organizations such as CNN.

Trump has a history of criticizing media. He often labels news critical of him as "FAKE" (in upper-case letters), even when it simply states verifiable facts.

He previously had called much of the media the enemy of the people. He later expressed a similar view, saying that 80 percent of the media could be characterized that way.

As with many of Trump's posts on Twitter, these came with little context or indication of any actions that could implement it.

The government already supports foreign broadcasts such as Voice of America.

A government-run news outlet also was proposed by Congress in 2016, as a means to counter disinformation from countries such as Russia and China, and to provide "fact-based narratives that support United States allies and interests."

For more, read the Washington Post story.

White House moves to ban reporters' followup questions

The White House has issued rules that reporters covering presidential press conferences will need to follow - or risk losing their access.

The new rules stem from a Nov. 6 incident in which the White House revoked CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass. A federal judge ordered the White House to temporarily reinstate the pass until a final decision comes from the courts.

Rules limit reporters to single question - with no followup

Reporters will be limited to a single question - with followup questions prohibited unless the reporter is given permission. Reporters attempting to ask a followup question without permission risk losing their access.

The White House Correspondents' Association - which assigns reporters to White House press conferences - said followup questions are vital to getting to the truth and reporters would continue to ask them.

Followup questioning, for example, prevents the person being interviewed from evading a question, or saying something false without being questioned about why they consider it to be true.

The rules also may aggravate the problem they ostensibly were created to fix. In a letter to Acosta explaining the rules, the White House said they are needed because Acosta demanded them to prevent discretionary treatment. But, while adding explicit limits, enforcement remains arbitrary - thus codifying discriminatory treatment of different reporters.

For more, read the Vox story.

Click here to read the letter from the White House outlining the new rules for press conferences.

Judge orders White House to allow banned reporter

The White House has been ordered by a federal judge to allow a reporter it banished from the White House back in.

The events leading up to the judge's order started at a press conference with President Trump the day after the Nov. 6 midterm elections.

When CNN correspondent Jim Acosta asked Trump a followup question to one he had just asked, a White House employee attempted to take the microphone. Acosta refused to immediately relinquish it and continued to ask his question.

Making the call using instant replay

The White House reaction was to revoke Acosta's hard pass - which allows reporters quick entry to the White House grounds. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders justified the action with a video of the incident - doctored in a way that could create a perception of Acosta being aggressive.

Who covers White House press conferences?

The White House normally does not decide which media members attend press conferences. Rather, it is the White House Correspondents' Association that assigns seating in the press room. The independence helps prevent presidents from selecting media likely to be more favorable toward them.

CNN sued in federal court, claiming that banning Acosta was arbitrary - therefore violating his Fifth Amendment right to due process. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary injunction - requiring the White House to restore Acosta's access until the issue is resolved by the courts.

Bill would create government based media agency

A bill introduced in Congress would create a government-run media agency to fight disinformation from countries such as Russia and China.

The new agency - the Center for Information Analysis and Response - would alter narratives put forth by other countries, creating new "fact-based narratives that support United States allies and interests."

The bill also provides for grants to private media organizations that demonstrate "their compatibility with United States interests and objectives."

Click here for more information on the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act.

MSNBC splits into Microsoft and NBC

Microsoft and NBC News have dissolved their 16-year joint venture in MSNBC.com. To effect the deal, Comcast - majority owner of NBC - is buying out Microsoft's 50% share of the MSNBC web site.

This is a summary of how the announced changes will directly affect users...

• As of today, users going to MSNBC.com will be redirected to NBCnews.com
• For now, NBCnews.com will continue to have sections for MSNBC political programs such as The Rachel Maddow Show and Morning Joe
• In early 2013, MSNBC.com will be revert to being operated by Microsoft as the web site for their MSNBC cable network. Sections for MSNBC cable shows will move to the new site.
• Microsoft is developing its own news service