RTDNA says “a press room you get to curate isn’t a press room. It’s a stage”
Radio Television Digital News AssociationProfessional association for broadcast and digital news leaders, in a statement by president and CEO Tara Puckey
In a statement released by its president and CEO, Tara Puckey, the Radio Television Digital News Association said that a press room the president curates is a stage rather than a press room, and that transparency means access for reporters asking tough questions and not only those the president likes.
“A press room you get to curate isn’t a press room. It’s a stage. Transparency means access for reporters asking tough questions, not simply the ones you like.”
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
On Friday, September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that, "effective immediately, I am banning" CNN, MS NOW and Politico "from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" About an hour later, in the Oval Office, he said no particular story prompted the decision, that he does not want the outlets "in my office," and that "somebody has a right to keep them away" if outlets write false stories. The three outlets and press-freedom groups oppose the exclusion, citing constitutional protection for the press, and the White House Correspondents' Association said it "stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO." On Saturday, September 19, MS NOW, CNN and Politico said their White House reporters were refused entry and had press passes confiscated; the White House referred questions to Trump's earlier remarks. The dispute is over whether President Trump should exclude named news organizations from White House access over what they report.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Statement released by RTDNA President and CEO Tara Puckey on September 18, 2026, after President Trump announced the ban.
Reporting
About this source
Editor & Publisher's survey of responses to the ban by press associations, press-freedom groups and news organizations, including statements by RTDNA, SPJ, IRE and the National Press Club and Jeff Jarvis's CNN appearance.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
President Trump had announced on Friday, September 18, that he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage.
After the quotation
RTDNA’s statement was among several from journalism associations that day, alongside the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Club.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
On Trump’s decision to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access because of their coverage, RTDNA condemns the exclusion, describing a curated press room as a stage and demanding access for reporters who ask hard questions. It does not call expressly for reversal; the criticism of the action itself is direct. No competing label plausibly applies.
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- RTDNA says “a press room you get to curate isn’t a press room. It’s a stage”
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The Dispute Index. "RTDNA says “a press room you get to curate isn’t a press room. It’s a stage”". First published: 2026-09-21. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1329-in-a-statement-released-by-its-president-and