Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is taking steps to diversify its Room 9 press room, the traditional press room at City Hall, opening the doors to more ethnic and community media outlets that better reflect the diverse communities across the five boroughs.
The coveted seats in Room 9 have been occupied primarily by a handful of mainstream media organizations, while many local ethnic and community outlets have been left on the sidelines.
However, to increase representation and ensure all New Yorkers have access to news and information from City Hall and the City Council, the Adams administration is shaking things up.
Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy announced the decision to diversify the media room in a letter to the media organizations, saying, “In order to welcome new outlets into City Hall, support a diverse press corps, and use our limited space more efficiently, we are implementing a new policy in Room 9.”
Levy said, “Currently, a small number of outlets claim a large number of desks at City Hall. Not every desk is used daily. Starting on July 1, 2024, each outlet will be allotted one desk, freeing up space for more outlets to join the Room 9 press corps.”
He continued, “This policy will allow us to expand the number of outlets and reporters covering their city government directly from City Hall, including outlets that have historically been left out of Room 9.”
The decision comes after Mayor Adams vowed last December to “analyze” the policy to make space for more diverse media voices.
The administration also plans to reserve a set of desks for flexible use.
Levy explained, “We will also reserve a set of desks in Room 9 that are open to any member of the press corps. While everyone is welcome to use these desks, priority will be given to reporters whose outlets do not have a designated seat in Room 9, ensuring that as many outlets as possible can participate.”
The move is seen as a long-overdue step towards ensuring that the city’s diverse communities – from Pakistani to Chinese, Polish to Senegalese, diverse Latino outlets, and countless others – have access to news and information from City Hall through the media outlets they rely on for local coverage.
There are currently almost 300 ethnic and community media outlets in the city’s directory.
