The White House News Photographers released the following statement on Nov. 21, 2013, in response to the letter by a broad coalition of media to the White House protesting access for photojournalists to President Barack Obama and White House:
WHNPA JOINS BROAD COALITION OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS PROTESTING
ACCESS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 21, 2013) – Washington, DC— Earlier today the White House News Photographers Association, along with more than 30 other news and media organizations delivered a letter to the White House to protest the limits on access on photojournalists who cover President Barack Obama and the White House.
The letter to White House press secretary Jay Carney read in part, “As surely as if they were placing a hand over a journalist’s camera lens, officials in this administration are blocking the public from having an independent view of important functions of the Executive Branch of government.”
WHNPA president Ron Sachs said, “The White House News Photographers Association has been engaged with the White House Press Office on the issue of access for photographers from the very earliest days of this Administration. It is our hope that the letter sent today to Mr. Carney on this topic, will be the catalyst to restore the access that ensures independent coverage of this administration.”
The White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) is a 92-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of Washington’s professional photojournalists. The WHNPA aims to provide professional and educational outreach to its members and the community through scholarships, programming, an annual competition and a celebration of the industry at the annual Eyes of HistoryTM gala. For more information, please visit www.whnpa.org, or contact executive director Heidi Elswick at Heidi@54.85.141.172 or WHNPA president Ron Sachs at president@54.85.141.172.
