The loud, rowdy and even rude job of reporting

An inside look at the workings of the press corps

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — It can be rowdy and even rude at times. But the media spray — shouted questions by the White House press corps to the president — is a necessary part of holding the nation’s top public official to account.

On Wednesday, White House aides banned CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for shouting questions Mr. Trump did not like, setting off a national debate about how the press does its job.

Here are five things to know about the presidential pool spray: HOW IT WORKS It is standard protocol for reporters to ask the president questions at sprays, and Mr. Trump, unlike some of his predecessors, often engages.

Typically, the White House announces that a closed presidential event will include a spray at the top, which means a small pool of journalists repres e n t i n g print, radio, broadcast and wire services will be invited into the room at the beginning. The images and video usually feature a dozen or more journalists clad in IDs, headphones and gear, crammed into a small space and hoisting long, furry microphones toward the president. Sprays happen in such places as the Oval Office, at Cabinet meetings and in other confabs the president wants in images or on audio. THE GOAL The president gets the publicity he wants — footage, say, of his handshake with another head of state or signing key legislation into law. His goal overlaps with the media’s aim of broadcasting these events to the world.

Etiquette dictates that no questions are asked until the president makes any remarks. But that’s where aligned interests, and sometimes the dignity of the occasion, end.

Reporters can then ask any question on any topic. Sometimes they shout to make sure the president can hear the question.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT NOW

What’s new is Mr. Trump’s engagement — he’s answered questions during these brief media hits on such topics as porn actress Stormy Daniels and Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The former reality show star’s habit stands in contrast to other presidents, barred from a Rose Garden many of whom saw more event, which was open to all risk in answering questions other members of the credentialed off-the-cuff. media.

President Barack The White House said Obama, for example, disliked that it found Ms. Collins’ rowdy pool sprays and questions inappropriate and rarely answered shouted that she had refused to leave questions in the informal when asked. But footage settings. The White House shows that none of the assembled Correspondents’ Association press heeded aides’ often fought with his calls to leave at first. Journalists administration over the sometimes ignore the matter. shouts of White House aides

By Mr. Obama’s second in such settings if it seems term, frustrated reporters like the president might answer crafted a list of what it considered a question. best practices for a Multiple media outlets, including president. These included Mr. Shine’s former taking questions from the subordinate at Fox News, press no less than once a and the WHCA condemned week. the White House’s move

WHAT HAPPENED against Ms. Collins. WEDNESDAY ‘THANKS,’ NOW GET

At an Oval Office pool OUT spray early in the day, Ms. Wrangling the press at Collins — representing television sprays can get complicated networks — was one in the Trump era because of the reporters peppering the impulsive president will the president with questions. listen to the shouted questions Some of her queries focused — and sometimes answer on an audio recording the ones he likes. of Mr. Trump taken by his After the president gets former lawyer, Michael Cohen, the images and audio he about a tabloid payment wants, White House press to a woman alleging an aides seeking to keep the affair with Mr. Trump. president “on-message” will

White House staff shouted sometimes try to outshout at reporters to leave the the reporters, hollering, room. Later that day, according “THANK YOU!” which to Ms. Collins and CNN, keeps Mr. Trump from hearing she was reprimanded by the questions. The result press secretary Sarah Huckabee is a lot of yelling, which can Sanders and communications look and sound chaotic on chief Bill Shine and television.