Presidential news provides a window into the world of politics for Americans and people around the globe. The questions posed and the answers elicited enlighten our fellow citizens, which is why the American public has long seen these interactions as essential to democracy.
Whether they’re shouted or not, questions are the fuel that drives this essential work. And it’s not always easy: shouted questions can appear ill-mannered, and reporters are often reluctant to use them, even in their best interest. Yet they serve a crucial purpose—to get important questions to the President that he or she cannot answer in a more formal setting.
The written accounts, photos and footage compiled by members of the White House press corps in the form of “pool reports” are part of a daily record that lives on for generations to come. They serve as a foundation for historians, documentarians and other future journalists. For this reason, the members of the in-house, supplementary and foreign pools—including many who were present at the time of this article’s publication—take their responsibilities seriously from the moment they step inside the doors to the “lid,” the official notice that the event is over.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans cite national TV networks as major sources of political and election news, with similar shares saying the same for CNN and Fox News. In addition, roughly two-in-ten name the New York Times, NPR and conservative talk radio as major sources. While not as well-known, smaller local and niche outlets are also significant sources for some.