TWH Taking Charge Of Briefing-Room Seating Chart

The White House is set to take control of the seating chart for the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, a move that shifts a long-standing responsibility away from the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). 

Historically, the WHCA, an independent organization of journalists, has managed the assignment of the 49 seats in the briefing room, determining which news outlets and reporters sit where based on factors like tenure, attendance, and audience reach. This tradition dates back to the early 1990s when the White House press staff relinquished the task to avoid the contentious process of choosing among media outlets.

The decision, first reported by Axios, reflects the Trump administration's intent to reshape media dynamics at the White House. A senior White House official described it as a "fundamental restructuring of the briefing room, based on metrics more reflective of how media is consumed today." 

The new seating plan will reportedly prioritize a mix of traditional TV, print, and digital outlets, including newer organizations and online influencers, while still incorporating major legacy media. The goal, according to the official, isn’t just to favor friendly coverage but to align seating with current media consumption patterns, though consistent White House coverage remains a key criterion.

This shift follows other efforts by the administration to assert greater influence over press interactions, such as taking over the designation of press pool reporters for tight spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One—another role previously handled by the WHCA. The change has sparked varied reactions. Some see it as a way to diversify voices in the room, potentially elevating digital creators and conservative outlets, while others view it as an attempt to marginalize established media or control the narrative by altering who gets prominent access.

Practically, front-row seats matter because they offer better visibility for asking questions and appearing on camera, a perk long held by major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, Fox News, and wire services like AP and Reuters. The WHCA’s current chart, last updated in 2022, keeps these outlets upfront, with newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times in the second row, and a mix of smaller or newer outlets further back. The White House’s new approach could shake up this hierarchy, though specifics—like whether legacy outlets will be pushed to the back or simply rearranged—remain unclear as of March 31, 2025.