US media outlets protest White House media restrictions

Dozens of American media outlets have protested against the White House policies that ban photojournalists from covering US President Barack Obama at certain events, calling it "a major break" from the transparency of previous presidencies.

"Journalists are routinely being denied the right to photograph or videotape the President while he is performing his official duties," the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) and other news organisations said in a letter to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

"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," WHCA said.

The letter, also signed by such groups as the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Associated Press Managing Editors and the White House News Photographers Association as well as individual media outlets, notes that the White House has argued that certain events with the president are private and should not be opened to the news media.

However, in instance after instance, the White House has proved that claim false by allowing its own photographers and videographers into the same events and then releasing those photos or videos to a nationwide audience, the letter alleged.

"You are, in effect, replacing independent photojournalism with visual press releases," the groups said in the letter.

The practice is a troubling break from tradition, and belies the president's vow to be more transparent, it said.

"The right of journalists to gather the news is most critical when covering government officials acting in their official capacities," the letter said.

"Previous administrations have recognised this, and have granted press access to visually cover precisely these types of events, thus creating government transparency. It is clear that the restrictions imposed by your office on photographers undercuts the President's stated desire to continue and broaden that tradition," the letter said.

"To exclude the press from these functions is a major break from how previous administrations have worked with the press," the letter said as the WHCA asked for a meeting to make the case face to face for a change in policy.

The White House Correspondents' Association represents the White House press corps.