The White House has begun a new chapter in its media outreach by opening the briefing room to representatives from "new media" outlets. This includes podcasters, bloggers, social media influencers, and other content creators who are changing the way people consume news.

President Donald Trump’s administration is eager to ensure that his message reaches a wide and diverse audience by embracing the evolving media field, especially among young Americans. With the rise of platforms like podcasts and blogs, millions of young people have moved away from traditional television and newspapers to get their news.

Why did this happen?

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in White House history, said the goal of this change is to make the White House more open and accessible to everyone. She explained that many young people have stopped getting news from traditional TV and newspapers, choosing instead to get news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent sources.

By letting new media outlets, like podcasts and social media influencers, into the briefing room, Leavitt believes the White House can connect with more young people who don't follow traditional news. She thinks this change is important because it shows how people’s news habits are changing, and the government needs to adapt to these new ways of getting information.

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What does it mean for the briefing room?

The White House briefing room, usually filled with big-name journalists, will now have a "New Media Seat." This seat is for independent platforms that produce news but haven't had a chance to be in the room before.

Karoline Leavitt also started a website, whitehouse.gov/newmedia, where independent journalists, content creators, and social media influencers can apply for press credentials. She wants to encourage new voices to join in the national conversation.

During her first media briefing, Leavitt let a reporter from the conservative Breitbart site ask the first question while sitting in one of the new seats before turning to the Associated Press reporter. This shows that the White House is trying to include a wider range of media outlets, especially those with large audiences that were not allowed access before.

How will this affect press relations moving forward?

In her statement, Leavitt also reassured traditional media outlets that their presence would not be forgotten. She confirmed that established sources like Axios and Breitbart would have permanent seats in the briefing room moving forward. Leavitt further added, “We will ensure that respected outlets like Axios and Breitbart have a permanent seat in this room every day.” This signifies a balancing act between traditional journalism and emerging platforms.

Karoline Leavitt also said they will bring back 440 press passes that were taken away during the previous administration. This shows they're trying to rebuild trust with journalists who were excluded before. Overall, by allowing new media outlets to ask questions, the White House is making an important change in how it works with the press. By doing this, the Trump administration is keeping up with how people now get news, making sure it stays connected with a wider and more varied group of people.