Leaking information to the media has been a political and corporate strategy since the beginning of the press. From the 1920s era of “Yellow Journalism” or biased news to the contemporary trend of liberal media and conservative online news, the practice has deep origins. It is customary for the media to operate in this manner, and any different conduct from politicians is atypical.

CNN and The New York Times have relied on access to politicians they dislike and consistently trash for years. And for years, Republicans have complied, believing that they require publicity to interact with the American public. Before the advent of the Internet, this was vital.

Even Donald Trump, who is notoriously antagonistic toward the media, has continued to grant interviews to journalists such as Maggie Haberman and Bob Woodward. Trump addresses the leftist press, but he also provides updates on social media on his thoughts on their interpretation of what he said to them and whether they correctly reported his comments or distorted them.

DeSantis has chosen a different course, not even bothering to provide free fodder to his political foes, which are obviously the press. This has caused anxiety, as the press is also unable to get access through the rear entrance.

According to a new survey, journalists are getting increasingly upset with the governor of Florida and potential presidential contender in 2024. Ron DeSantis because his associates do not disclose harmful material to his opponents. Red State observes that DeSantis’ policy of avoiding the media has confused the media.

Reporters bemoan DeSantis team for not leaking, being a ‘tight circle’: ‘Bit of a culture shock’ https://t.co/YqAE0EwDiV

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 24, 2023

In the lead-up to the 2024 election, significant media outlets have been racing to recruit journalists familiar with the DeSantis administration to report on it, since the team of the governor and probable 2024 presidential contender is “inherently distrustful” of the press. According to another political writer, DeSantis’s reticence with the media has been “a bit of a culture shock.”

Vanity Fair staff writer Charlotte Klein wrote Friday, “It can be particularly challenging to report inside DeSantis’s orbit, which makes the jockeying by news organizations all the more competitive. For one, it’s hard to source up inside an operation that appears inherently distrustful of journalists.” She wrote, “Despite the fact that Trump has bashed the media for years, he—and others in his orbit—seemed to have reporters on speed dial during his chaotic presidency.

Klein quoted one anonymous journalist, who claimed that DeSantis’ team seemed like it’s “running a straight-up opposition campaign against the media.” The author noted that though former President Donald Trump had an adversarial relationship with media, he allowed journalists more access than DeSantis has.

DeSantis has not officially launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, but the media includes him in surveys with candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. The elusive Florida politician is busy making strides and waves in his own state, including ensuring Disney has the same tax structure as other businesses, that adult entertainment stays in adult venues, that illegal aliens are dealt with appropriately, and his most recent efforts to prevent cryptocurrency from having the same effect on banking in Florida as it has nationally and internationally.

Red State further comments on DeSantis’ strategy:

So according to the press, DeSantis is bad because his team is too disciplined and competent, choosing not to leak information that could undermine the job they are trying to do. Talk about a sense of entitlement, and one that was earned over years of Republican politicians being surrounded by people who give reporters whatever they want.

More on this story via The Republic Brief:

Now, it’s a “culture shock” that a governor and possible presidential candidate actually has control of the narrative. That’s how it should be, though. Nothing was more damaging to Trump’s administration than the constant deluge of leaks from those around him. Every single day, a new anonymously sourced story would kneecap what he was trying to do and distract from the wins. DeSantis obviously saw that and decided he wasn’t going to allow the same mistakes to be made, and he’s followed through to the point that press members are now leaking how mad they are. CONTINUE READING…