You know that the media landscape is changing irrevocably when journalists threaten a sit-in against their subjects. At news industry site Semafor, Max Tani has the story:

On Sunday, key members of the WHCA, including the organization’s leadership and some White House bureau chiefs, met to discuss a range of potential responses should Trump communications officials decide to dictate where reporters in the room sit.

According to two people familiar with the discussions, among the proposals raised by members was a potential Civil Rights era-style “sit-in” protest, in which members would return to their old seats and refuse to leave them. “Journalists consider briefing room sit-in as Trump clashes with White House press corps,” March 31, 2025

Okay, a bit of background: Both the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August and the White House today have reacted — amid loud opposition — to two things: the decline of legacy mainstream media and the concurrent rise of internet-based social media.

For example, the New York Times has 6.5 million paid subscribers to its digital news product. But Joe Rogan has over 11 million listeners per episode. Admittedly, the comparison is rough but it is still telling. The White House could not simply continue to let the traditionalist White House press corps control seating arrangements for the benefit of the traditional organs.

As might be expected, many accusations of favoritism will follow and doubtless some will be justified:

The White House has prohibited The Associated Press from covering in-person events over the wire service’s refusal to follow Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Trump communications officials have also invited friendly reporters to cover events at which there is limited press access, allowing Trump to receive more positive questions and even some rhetorical backup during key moments. “Clashes with”

But maintaining the traditional system itself would be favoring yesterday’s news over today’s news. An old media sit-in — the strategy of those who lack power — underlines that fact.