Justice Department opens antitrust investigation into five TV networks
publishers 50articles 52first reported 10 Oct, 22:32 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 8 editions
The U.S. Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News after the networks briefly halted White House television pool coverage in response to restrictions imposed on several news organizations.
Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said Saturday that the department was examining whether the networks’ coordinated action violated federal law. “Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” she said, adding that the Antitrust Division was investigating whether any violation occurred. The New York Times reported, according to CNA, that officials contacted the networks Friday seeking communications and other materials related to the television pool.
The dispute began after the Trump administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them of unfair coverage. The three outlets sued, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights and retaliation over their reporting. The five television pool members then suspended coverage in solidarity and declined to replace CNN when it was prevented from taking scheduled pool shifts.
A federal judge required the administration to restore the outlets’ credentials temporarily, though disputes over particular events and pool assignments continued. The television pool rotates responsibility for covering the president in settings with limited space and distributes its footage to other news organizations.
The networks did not immediately comment. Press-freedom advocates criticized the inquiry, with Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press president Bruce Brown calling it an attempt to intimidate journalists. The Justice Department said it was determining whether the networks’ coordination amounted to anticompetitive conduct.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 50
- Source articles
- 52
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 24 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
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: Two attribution/detail issues can be fixed by aligning the wording with the cited sources. - "According to reporting cited by CNA, officials contacted the networks Friday seeking communications and other materials related to the television pool.": CNA says The New York Times reported officials contacted the networks Friday and demanded communications and materials; saying CNA cited unspecified reporting is misleading attribution. - "A federal judge ordered the administration to restore the outlets’ credentials temporarily, though disputes over particular events and pool assignments continued.": The sources differ on whether credentials were restored by a temporary stay or reinstated after an order, so 'ordered' as a settled fact overstates the available sourcing.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Justice Department opens antitrust investigation into five TV networks
The U.S. Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News after the networks briefly halted White House television pool coverage in response to restrictions imposed on several news organizations.
Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said Saturday that the department was examining whether the networks’ coordinated action violated federal law. “Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” she said, adding that the Antitrust Division was investigating whether any violation occurred. AccordingThe New York Times reported, according to reportingCNA, cited by CNA,that officials contacted the networks Friday seeking communications and other materials related to the television pool.
The dispute began after the Trump administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them of unfair coverage. The three outlets sued, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights and retaliation over their reporting. The five television pool members then suspended coverage in solidarity and declined to replace CNN when it was prevented from taking scheduled pool shifts.
A federal judge orderedrequired the administration to restore the outlets’ credentials temporarily, though disputes over particular events and pool assignments continued. The television pool rotates responsibility for covering the president in settings with limited space and distributes its footage to other news organizations.
The networks did not immediately comment. Press-freedom advocates criticized the inquiry, with Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press president Bruce Brown calling it an attempt to intimidate journalists. The Justice Department said it was determining whether the networks’ coordination amounted to anticompetitive conduct.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →