The United States Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into whether the White House television press pool’s decision to stop broadcasting presidential coverage last month breached antitrust regulations, a spokesperson confirmed on Saturday.
The investigation follows a strike by five major broadcasters who collectively ceased their coverage after CNN, MS Now, and Politico were barred from accessing the White House.
In a statement regarding the matter, the department noted that coordinated boycotts among competing businesses could potentially contravene US law. “The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws,” the spokesperson said.
I never thought I’d see the DOJ use antitrust laws against broadcasters over editorial choices. The precedent here is terrifying.
Wait, so five competing networks stopping their own coverage is an antitrust violation? Doesn’t that just punish them for working together?
This is wild. Investigating news organizations for coordinating a boycott feels like a direct attack on press freedom.