Justice Department opens antitrust probe into White House TV pool networks

WHAT THE EDITOR DID

The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.

WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: The story needs small edits to make clear the lawsuit and restoration concerned CNN, MS NOW and Politico's White House access and to match CNA's attribution of the document demands to The New York Times. - "ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News suspended coverage last month after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from access.": The sources say the five networks suspended pool coverage after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House or stripped credentials, not simply from access; as written it is vague and could imply all access or the same access later discussed. - "The three organizations sued, alleging that the restrictions violated the First Amendment and were retaliation for their reporting.": The sources say the organizations sued over the White House ban/exclusions, not the five networks' suspension of coverage; the sentence's placement makes the antecedent of 'restrictions' misleading. - "A federal judge subsequently ordered their access temporarily restored while the legal dispute continued, and television pool coverage resumed.": Sources differ on the exact procedural posture, but support that credentials/access were restored after a judge's order or reprieve; 'temporarily restored while the legal dispute continued' is acceptable, but this sentence should clearly refer to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. - "According to reporting cited by CNA, department officials contacted the networks Friday seeking communications and other materials concerning the television pool.": CNA says officials demanded communications and materials related to the White House TV pool, citing The New York Times; 'seeking' understates a demanded request but is not materially misleading. The material problem is only that the attribution obscures that CNA attributed it to The New York Times.

THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES

Justice Department opens antitrust probe into White House TV pool networks

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether five television networks violated antitrust law when they briefly halted pooled coverage of President Donald Trump, a department spokesperson said Saturday. ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News suspended coverage last month after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from access.the White House. The three organizations sued,sued over the White House ban, alleging that the restrictions violated the First Amendment and were retaliation for their reporting. A federal judge subsequently ordered their access temporarily restored while the legal dispute continued, and television pool coverage resumed. Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said coordinated boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act. “The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws,” she said. According to The New York Times reporting cited by CNA, department officials contacted the networks Friday seeking communications and other materials concerning the television pool. The White House television pool is a rotating arrangement in which networks share the costs and responsibilities of covering presidential events in locations where space is limited, then distribute footage to other outlets. The five networks did not immediately comment. Press-freedom advocates criticized the inquiry. Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, called it an attempt to intimidate journalists, while Committee to Protect Journalists regional director Jose Zamora said antitrust investigations should not be used against outlets defending press access.