Reporter hailed as hero after broadcasting off-camera press briefing in defiance of White House rules
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A reporter who founded her own news site and appointed herself its chief White House correspondent, has emerged as hero among the Washington Press corps after defying Donald Trump by live streaming a media briefing.
For several months, Mr Trump’s communications team has been at war with reporters about what were once daily news briefings. Under the Trump administration, the briefings have become irregular, frequently farcical and often not allowed to be filmed, or even for a live audio feed to operate. At one point, CNN sent a sketch artist normally retained for the court room, to underscore the idiocy.
Yet Ksenija Pavlovic, a former political science teaching fellow at Yale who founded a news site called Pavlovic Today, found herself something of a journalistic celebrity when she used the Periscope app to stream audio of Wednesday’s briefing by deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
The Huffington Post said the sound quality of the recordings was poor, but Ms Sanders could be heard introducing Marc Short, the director of legislative affairs, before taking questions from the floor.
Ms Pavlovic’s tweeted two streams. The first drew 37 listeners; the second attracted 41.
Ms Pavlovic’s enterprise followed weeks of angry complaints from members of the White House press corps about the restrictions that had been imposed since White House press secretary Sean Spicer decided to shake things up because he believed too many television reporters were using the briefings to “grandstand”.
CNN’s Jim Acosta tweeted last month: “I’m off today but it must be said that YOUR White House is taking away YOUR right to see and hear YOUR government answer questions today.”
Earlier this week, a Fox News reporter also made headlines when he left a briefing early and was targeted by Ms Sanders who announced from the podium: “John Roberts is bored today - he’s headed out.”
Mr Roberts responded: “If it was on camera, I might not be.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments