The Washington Post reports that reporters normally allowed to navigate the White House will not have the access unless granted to by the UFC. It is because the White House has given media control to the UFC to determine who is granted access on Sunday.
Only reporters from the White House press pool will be on-site to cover the event in addition to those granted access by Dana White. This is not the usual protocol for the White House which usually allows press access for events held at the White House.
According to Awful Announcing, the press will also lose access to the White House briefing room and the designated press workplaces within the White House. Also, the area on the White House North Lawn where media do live shots will not be available.
If any media want access, they must go through the UFC. There will be a very limited number of credentialed media on the South Lawn. Other media will be at the Ellipse or the JW Marriott hotel nearby.
Payout Perspective:
Once again the control of the message is key for the UFC as it navigates a historic night for the company. But, it also comes at the expense of public taxpayers. The White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Ellipse are all public and to cede power to a private company on public land is contrary to what the government should be doing. Ensuring that outlets that are friendly to the UFC write positive stories is good for the UFC, but how they are going about this makes one feel uncomfortable.
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