“How long has there been a press room in the White House and how big was the media back then?”
There is something else at play here which the MSM is not reporting on. It is called press row. It is a group of offices that the media uses to file their reports, meet with politicians and staff etc. I think the MSM are equating the two, (briefing room and press row) and are trying to create fake news here.
If I understand the news correctly, the briefing room is being moved to larger quarters. They are not getting rid of press row. Personally, I would create a central press office which is occupied by a rotating pool reporter who will attend briefings. Then I would change the way briefings are done.
Briefings would be done over Skype and the press can buy a subscription to the briefings. The only reporter that attends the briefing live is the pool reporter. That is to ensure that questions taken over Skype, which will be anonymous to guarantee no one gets an exclusive is followed.
It’s a new paradigm in briefings which saves companies money in that they don’t have to send someone to Washington.
I’d revoke press credentials entirely from the group of corporate media organizations that have proven beyond a doubt that they have no interest in anything but promoting a narrative.
I think one is narrowing it a bit much. But I like the idea of rotating the press. Keep the old press room but constantly rotate the 49 who fit in there.
Then there can be cameras that the others can watch