PR vs. journalism: Why Leavitt was dead wrong. Again.
You might have heard something about a press secretary who threatened a TV network in the U.S. She reportedly told its personnel that if they didn’t broadcast an interview with her boss in its entirety, “we’ll sue your ass off.”
This, friends, is a clear desecration of norms between public relations specialists and journalists.
In this case, not only is the U.S. First Amendment ignored, but the situation tramples the relationship between PR and journalism.
In brief, it was flat-out wrong and irresponsible for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to tell CBS the manner in which her boss, the president of the United States, wanted a story aired, then threaten legal action if things didn’t go their way. If that’s what the White House wanted, Leavitt should have hired a videographer and broadcast an interview on Donald Trump’s owned media (independent media fans, discuss). The latter is common for PR staffs when they’re promoting something and not reporting news.
For its part, CBS News defends its editorial decisions with this and other recent stories.
Credible journalists are doing their best to stick with the mission
Despite what you witness across news organizations in 2026, some value-driven journalists are doing their best to maintain objectivity and call out inaccuracies with facts as they happen. Doing anything else would be unfair, dishonest and dishonorable.
Why write about politics PR’s relationship with journalists?
This site, while still in its infancy, is dedicated to promoting media literacy. Championing true, independent media is part of that.
What you saw with Leavitt and her boss is not journalism. It’s a combination of blackmail and heavy-handed deal-making. It violates every ethic under which the First Amendment was created.
They were wrong. We the people should be glad this issue was brought to light and hope that someone — someone — holds them and others accountable for similar fractures in media.
@2026 Gail Sideman, pissedoffpublicist.com
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