Podcasters to rub shoulders with legacy media in Trump White House

The White House said that the press credentials would be extended to TikTok content creators, bloggers, podcasters, etc. "If you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

In Short

• Trump opens White House access to new media creators
• New media includes podcasters, bloggers, influencers
• White House says Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to record low

Soon, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators are likely to be seen in the front seat of the White House press briefing room. The Trump administration has opened up White House access to all those "producing legitimate news content".

After this shake up, the 49 seats in the James S Brady Briefing Room is no longer going to be allotted exclusively to news organisations, or “the legacy media” as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt termed them.

The swift change in protocol is not much of a surprise given Trump's toxic relationship with the media. Trump, who is in the news constantly, has long dubbed news organisations "enemies of the people".

But Trump is also aiming to be the “most transparent and accessible president in American history”.

Enter “new media”.

At her first press briefing on Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt (27), the youngest person ever to be named White House press secretary, started by announcing job openings for a new media landscape.

“We’re opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room. We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House. And you can apply now on our new website, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia,” Leavitt said.

The applications will be screened by the White House team. Those who meet the required criteria and pass United States Secret Service requirements will then receive the credentials to enter the White House complex.

NEW MEDIA = MAGA SUPPORTERS ONLY?

On one hand, the White House has announced that “the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities”. But the screening of podcasters and TikTokers for the job would likely weed out those who are or have been anti-Trump.

As per a recent report by the Associated Press, job-seekers hoping to join the new Trump administration are facing a series of intense loyalty tests, and negative social media posts have been enough to derail their applications.

The report mentioned that those seeking jobs have been told they will have to prove their “enthusiasm” to enact Trump's agenda and have been asked when their moment of “MAGA revelation” occurred.

In that case, what about those who are hoping to be part of the new media?

WHO MAKES UP NEW MEDIA?

Karoline Leavitt cited a poll from Gallup and claimed that the Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to a record low.

“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,” she said.

Trump administration is hoping to rope in these podcasters and social media influencers and TikTokers from the digital world to the press briefing room in the White House.

“We encourage anybody in this country — whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster — if you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House,” Leavitt said.

WELCOME AND A WARNING

The Trump administration did not forget to leave a warning for the critics of the US President. Leavitt warned of action if “reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House”.

“We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family, and we will not accept that. We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House,” she said.