The Trump White House has persistently attempted to undermine the free press and stop media from doing the legitimate work of reporting on White House actions, while at the same time using any willing press outlet to publicize misinformation. Today, they went truly overboard - CNN, the NY Times, and several other media were prevented from attending the White House press briefing. This assault on the press is unprecedented in the USA, but familiar to anyone who has witnessed strong-man rule undermine democratic norms in another country. Attempts to delegitimize the press and to punish the press for carrying negative stories about those in power are just about the first step that any would-be dictator takes in his effort to gain control over a country.
In response, media outlets should not allow themselves to be singled out for 'bad' behavior, but instead should immediately band together in support of the reporters who were excluded today. They should resist until the White House again opens the doors to all reporters seeking to attend. Specifically, all media outlets who staff the White House Press Corps should immediately take the following steps:
1. Do not send reporters to White House Press Conferences, or White House requests to address the nation, or any other invitation from the White House to reporters.
2. Do not publish quotes or paraphrases from the White House or its surrogates. The only news, the only facts, are official actions taken by the White House. What they say doesn't matter.
3. Use the staffing excess (from not having dedicated Press Corps reporters) to increase the staff doing investigative reporting on White House business and actions.
These policy changes should go into effect immediately, and should remain in effect until the White House announces that it will admit all interested reporters with legitimate press credentials to its press conferences, briefings, etc. Furthermore, these policy changes should be reinstated permanently if the White House excludes reporters again in the future (ie, goes back on its promise to admit all).
