Journalists call on Donald Trump to commit to press pool

A group of news organisations has called on President-elect Donald Trump to confirm he will have a press pool when he assumes office.

The open letter from media representatives to the Republican came several days after Trump allegedly ditched his press pool to have dinner with his family.

"As the new leader of the free world, we expect that you will preserve longstanding traditions that ensure coverage of the Trump presidency," read the letter, signed by 18 press organisations.

"The idea of a press pool that covers all of the president's movements is one that dates back to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration. Every president of both parties has treated this important tradition with respect.

"The role of the press pool is critically important to our country, whose citizens depend on and deserve to know what the president is doing. This isn't about access for the press itself, it's about access for Americans in diverse communities across the country. Your constituents receive information from a variety of platforms to learn about what our president is doing."

Trump had a tumultuous relationship with elements of the press during the course of his presidential campaign, frequently hitting out at mainstream media for what he saw as their support of Clinton.

As such, the press has sought reassurances from Trump's team that he will commit to allowing them access to the president.

After the President-elect ditched the press to have dinner with his family, his spokeswoman Hope Hicks told The Hill that Trump would not do anything to leave the press in the dark.

But her statement has clearly not gone far enough to persuade the press Trump will commit to allowing them access.

The letter added: "Being president is an enormous responsibility and working with the White House Correspondents' Association to ensure journalists' access is one small but important part of that.

"We call on you to commit to a protective press pool from now until the final day of your presidency. We respectfully ask you to instil a spirit of openness and transparency in your administration in many ways but first and foremost via the press pool."