Conservative news media awaits, prepares for changes coming with a Biden briefing room

The arrival of the Biden administration at the White House and its briefing room is raising concerns among conservative media outlets about whether they'll be granted the same access as their counterparts from the more liberal mainstream media. 

In anticipation of losing access granted when Donald Trump was president, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Newsmax have applied to become members of the White House Correspondents' Association so that they are guaranteed access to the briefing room. 

In its first week, the Biden administration has attempted to cycle through a small-but-balanced mix of TV, print and radio reporters to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Though Biden on Monday took only a few briefing questions, he called on Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Doocy, expressing his fondness for the reporter and his tough questions. 

However, others say the first briefings have included too many soft questions, including one about the color schemes on Air Force One. 

"It was an embarrassment for the press corps," Sean Spicer, host of Newsmax's "Spicer & Co." and a former Trump White House press secretary, told Politico. 

The White House has said it is not actively looking to ban conservative media outlets — as the Obama administration once attempted with Fox News — nor is it looking to exclude any journalist who was granted WHCA access during the Trump administration.

However, what is expected to significantly change is who is given briefing room access through connections to the president and the press secretary, which is how many conservative journalists gained access over the past four years.

"We expect reporters covering the White House to operate in good faith and tell their audience the truth, and this White House will do the same," deputy press secretary T.J. Ducklo told Politico. "We are moving forward with that mutual understanding."

Ducklo was also clear cut about the administration's ground rules.

"Organizations or individuals who traffic in conspiracy theories, propaganda and lies to spread disinformation will not be tolerated, and we'll work with the WHCA to decide how to handle those instances moving forward," he also said.