That letter of protest sent to the White House last November doesn’t seem to have changed matters much. The White House News Photographers Association was one of many groups protesting the White House’s ban on photographers during events at which the White House has its own official photographers and videographers present.
On Friday, a meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama was closed to the press, only for the White House to issue its own official photo later.
The White House News Photographers Association issued a statement:
The White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) takes issue with the White House again releasing an official photograph of President Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama today. Despite repeated requests from various news organizations, the White House did not open this meeting, which was deemed “closed press”. A government photographer is no substitute for an independent, experienced photojournalist. We are disappointed the White House has reverted to their old strategy of announcing a closed press event and then later releasing their own photo. The WHNPA also urges news organizations to refrain from publishing and circulating this handout photo, which is a visual press release of a news worthy event.
