NBC: Media Calls White House’s Official Photo Releases ‘Pure Propaganda’

‘Official photo releases like these are now at the center of an escalating battle between the White House and the news media over access and image control’

NBC: 'Escalating Battle' Between White House and Press Corps Over Obama's 'Pure Propaganda' (NewsBusters)

Getting a glimpse of the kind of real reporting that can occur on NBC Nightly News when Brian Williams isn't in the anchor chair, on Sunday's edition of the program, weekend anchor Lester Holt informed viewers that "official photo releases" from the Obama administration were "at the center of an escalating battle between the White House and the news media over access and image control." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

In the report that followed, White House correspondent Kristen Welker cited National Journal's Ron Fournier calling "images like these pure propaganda, arguing the Obama White House consistently blocks journalists from events they routinely covered in previous administrations." A sound bite followed of Fournier warning: "The White House is getting most of the control. That's not healthy for democracy."

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