NYT Issues Statement on Biden's 'Troubling' Avoidance of Journalists

The New York Times (Lean Left bias) issued a statement Thursday criticizing President Joe Biden for avoiding the press.

The Statement: "For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term," the statement reads. "Systematically avoiding interviews and questions from major news organizations doesn’t just undermine an important norm, it also establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to avoid scrutiny and accountability."

For Context: "Based on sheer numbers, Biden makes himself available for formal news conferences roughly half as much as any president since Reagan," according to our analysis of data from the American Presidency Project. "The Biden administration overall interacts with the press more than most past administrations. But much of it is either informal, or is Biden’s staff taking (and deflecting) questions instead of him."

How the Media Covered It: On the same day as the Times's statement, Politico (Lean Left bias) published an analysis of the "petty feud" between the Times and the Biden White House, suggesting that Biden's team sees the Times "falling short in a make-or-break moment for American democracy," while some at the Times say the White House has tried to "control its coverage." On the right, sources like Fox News (Right) highlighted the Times's "blistering statement" about Biden's "unprecedented lack of media access."