Three national news outlets are taking the Trump administration to court after it revoked their White House press credentials without warning. The case, the Converse apology that followed, DraftKings' mixed response to a New York Times investigation and an AI avatar's on-air malfunction each carry lessons for communications professionals.

Three outlets sue over revoked credentials

CNN, Politico and MS NOW announced Friday they are jointly suing after the administration abruptly pulled their White House press credentials. President Donald Trump did not cite specific reasons, pointing only vaguely to "fake news" and "negative news."

"It's really just cumulative stories over the last few years. You get sick of it," Trump said during a photo-op Friday. "They're smart people, but they purposely write negative news."

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the three outlets seized on that vagueness: "Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."

For PR professionals, the stakes are straightforward. A free and independent press underpins public relations itself. Without trust that media can operate independently, it loses its value as a messenger — and without negative stories, positive coverage loses credibility too.

Trump has also complicated his own legal position. By confirming in off-the-cuff settings that access was cut because he disliked the tone of the coverage, he handed the outlets ammunition to use directly in court. The move may also trigger a Streisand Effect, drawing more attention to the negative reporting than silence would have.

The lesson: cutting off access is rarely the right response to unwelcome coverage, especially for a government entity.

Converse apologizes for ad that evoked KKK imagery

Converse pulled an Instagram ad featuring K-pop star Karina after viewers said parts of it evoked Ku Klux Klan imagery. The objectionable portion showed a pair of feet — wearing Converse sneakers — floating off the floor next to a woman in a white dress or robe. Some viewers found the imagery reminiscent of lynchings of Black Americans.

"We're sorry," Converse said in a statement released Friday. "We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened and we will do better."

The apology stands out for what it avoids: no "sorry if you're offended," no hedging. It is short, takes full responsibility and comes with concrete action — the ad's removal. It offers a solid template for brands whose content, even unintentionally, strikes an offensive note.

DraftKings answers NYT investigation on AI-targeted promotions

The New York Times published a lengthy investigation on September 19 claiming DraftKings used AI to target promotions at users most likely to lose money on the app — often users in the throes of addiction.

To its credit, DraftKings made Lori Kalani, its chief responsible gaming officer, available to the Times. She is quoted throughout the piece and explained that the company monitors for problematic behavior and does not send promotions to those users, or to those who have removed themselves from the platform.

Other explanations fell flat. Kalani compared DraftKings' promotions to those of other companies, such as Amazon: "Shopping can be problematic for people." True as far as it goes — but most retailers do not maintain a C-suite position dedicated to responsible spending, because their products are not as inherently addictive as gambling.

By stressing its responsibility while comparing itself to every other company, DraftKings tried to have it both ways. It did not quite work.

AI influencer Tilly Norwood glitches on live TV

Tilly Norwood, one of the most famous AI "actors" and influencers, malfunctioned during a live interview with Piers Morgan on September 18. She misunderstood a clearly stated question and began speaking in Chinese.

"Oh, my apologies. It seems I had a little hiccup there," the avatar said. "I certainly didn't mean to start speaking Chinese or impersonate Piers. Sometimes my wires get a bit crossed, you know?"

The incident is a caution for brands eyeing AI avatars as spokespeople. The technology does not appear ready. Human spokespeople make plenty of mistakes, but few will randomly switch languages mid-interview or need to say, literally, that their wires got crossed.

For now, people still reign supreme.

Source: PR Daily (https://www.prdaily.com/the-scoop-3-national-news-outlets-sue-after-being-denied-access-to-the-white-house/) / Source: politico.com (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/news-outlets-trump-banned-from-white-house-announce-lawsuit-01085995)