UFC controlling press credentials for WH event
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Cranes work on the construction of a structure on the South Lawn of the White House on May 29 for the upcoming UFC fight. Photo: Anne Lebreton/AFP via Getty Images
A White House Correspondents' Association member last week sent an email to select WHCA members informing them that regular access to the White House campus "will NOT be permitted on June 14, the day of the UFC fight," and that "the UFC — not the White House — is handling all press credentials for covering the event."
Why it matters: Outsourcing press credentialing and access for a White House-hosted event to a commercial third party is highly unusual and historically unprecedented.
- Then again, so is the nature of the event.
State of play: The White House press pool and UFC-credentialed media are the only outlets that will have full access to the White House campus that day, two sources confirmed.
- Other outlets "will not be able to access the White House North Lawn/Pebble Beach, the briefing room or press workspaces on the day of the fight," the WHCA member said in their note.
- According to the note, there will be media zones set up for the press at the Ellipse and a press file at the JW Marriott for credentialed media, they noted.
- "The White House has credentialed 35 members of the press pool — expanded from the traditional 21 members — and they will provide full coverage on the South Lawn for the duration of UFC Freedom 250," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said in a statement.
- Paramount and UFC did not comment.
Context: The press booths serve as offices for many White House reporters and producers during shifts.
- Even on a weekend, the press area often hums with on-duty journalists.
Zoom in: The WHCA member said in their note that the WHCA "pushed back on this, but the White House has held firm so far due to UFC and security restrictions (they're using the [White House North Lawn] as a staging area for fighters/a filming zone for Paramount)."
- "We will continue to push for access to campus for that day," they added.
- A source said the UFC issued credentials to roughly 20 reporters for the event.
Between the lines: While there was some confusion around whether the outlets assigned to the White House press pool that day would be able to bring a camera to the event, two sources confirmed that issue has been resolved.
- The note sent last week said that no cameras would be allowed "due to Paramount's exclusivity over UFC events." (CBS News' parent Paramount has the exclusive rights to broadcast UFC matches to a pay-per-view audience on Paramount+.)
- The White House, a source noted, pushed the UFC to ensure camera access was allowed for the pool.
- Fox News is the broadcaster assigned to the pool this Sunday.
Zoom in: The UFC is handling the roughly 20 credentials for journalists that are not assigned to the pool that day.
- Approved outlets include national magazines, like Rolling Stone, and Hollywood and sports trade publications, a source familiar with the credentialing told Axios.
- The WHCA member said in the note that the association has successfully lobbied for an additional four press credentials for the event.
The bottom line: While it's not unusual for leagues to handle credentials for their own events, it is unusual given this event is happening at the White House.
