The White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) has raised serious concerns over the limited media access granted by Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team.
As detailed in a letter obtained by Axios, the association expressed their frustration over a sharp reduction in available seats for news photographers on Air Force Two. This issue has sparked an outcry among photographers who feel increasingly restricted in their ability to cover the vice president’s activities, especially in the lead-up to her presidential campaign, as reported by the Daily Caller.
Jessica Koscielniak, president of the WHNPA, sent a letter on August 28 to Harris’ senior aides, highlighting that the four independent news photographer seats had been cut down to just one.
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The reduction marks a significant limitation for the press and sets a new precedent for restricted access, leaving photographers scrambling for a solution. In her letter, Koscielniak proposed either adding a “chaser plane” to accommodate the extra media personnel or having the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) reevaluate seat assignments, as reported by Axios.
New: In an Aug. 28 letter obtained by Axios, the WH News Photographers Association said Harris' team was engaging in an "unprecedented reduction in access.”
The VP’s team didn’t respond until last night after we asked about the letter
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Doug Mills, a seasoned White House photographer, also weighed in on the matter, voicing his frustration.
Mills argued that each photographer brings a unique perspective to events, and reducing their numbers diminishes the public’s access to diverse visual documentation. “It’s essential to us for people to understand the importance of having a full photographer pool. Every photographer sees each event differently,” Mills told Axios, pointing out that the limited access places them at a distinct disadvantage.
Despite these concerns, the response from Harris’ office has been lackluster. Koscielniak told Axios that she has yet to receive any formal reply from the vice president’s team since the letter was sent, although they did eventually address the issue after Axios reached out for comment.
Harris’ office claimed they had explored the suggested options, including a chaser plane, but determined that these were “not viable given available resources, including personnel and aircraft,” according to Axios.
Koscielniak called the response “disappointing,” pointing out that this represents the smallest media presence for a presidential candidate in her memory. She added that when Harris became the presidential nominee, the WHCA should have negotiated for the full 13-member travel pool to accompany her, a standard practice in previous campaigns.
Harris has been under scrutiny for her minimal press engagement since announcing her campaign. Her lack of unscripted moments and limited sit-down interviews have drawn criticism, especially in comparison to her competitors.
Even former President Donald Trump, who also lacks a traveling press pool, has engaged with the media more frequently than Harris. In a rare interview, Harris dodged questions about her policy shifts, frustrating both voters and the press alike.
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