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White House introduces new press rules amid CNN row

WASHINGTON: The White House has introduced new rules for journalists during administration news conferences following restoration of a  press pass for CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
Under the new rules, a journalist will be permitted a single question before yielding the floor to other journalists, but a follow-up question or questions may be permitted at the discretion of the president of other White House officials taking questions.
After follow-up questions have been asked, the questioner will be required to yield the floor, which when applicable constitutes physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner. The failure to abide by any of the rules may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist’s hard pass. White House Press Secretary Sara Sanders said the rules were created with a “degree of regret”.
For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the President and other officials without engaging in the behavior Mr. Acosta displayed at 7th November 2018, press conference, she said.
During the aforementioned press conference, Acosta challenged Trump for referring to a caravan of Central American migrants approaching the United States as an invasion. In the midst of a heated exchange, Trump called Acosta a rude, terrible person and ordered a White House aide to take the microphone from Acosta’s hand.
Acosta’s press pass was withdrawn the following day. Sanders also said the White House may institute further rules regarding press decorum if necessary.
It would be a great loss for all if, instead of relying on the professionalism of White House journalists, we were compelled to devise a lengthy and detailed code of conduct for White House events, she said.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.