New York Times, CNN, others barred from press briefing

[abaris]

Once this becomes the accepted norm then it will be a case of any journalist asking a difficult question will have their company banned from the press briefings. So there will be a pressure on them not to just accept what they are told or ask only questions that they know will be deemed acceptable. This then looks like implicit acceptance of what the government is doing and the administration will be able do avoid having to properly justify themselves. Of course critical newspapers and TV channels can still report what they like, but it will then be easier for the administration  to describe them as a hostile media with a heavy bias and to ignore the valid points that they make.

As long as it's only press briefings, it really doesn't matter much. What comical Ali says will be readily available within minutes.

What matters more is general access. If certain members of the press are excluded then it gets worrysome.