During my seven years working as a journalist in the US, I always disliked the cosy relationship that often exists between White House correspondents and officials, and between reporters and candidates on the campaign trail.
The Guardian is different. First, we have no proprietors who are part of the establishment: we are run by the Scott Trust, which safeguards our editorial independence.
Second, the instinct of each generation of Guardian journalists, mindful of a tradition that can be traced back to its founding two centuries ago, is to challenge authority and convention.
When the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump held a press conference in Scotland last week, he followed the normal practice of mainly picking out journalists known to him. I repeatedly tried to get his attention, and towards the end of the hour-long press conference, he relented.
He had claimed there was a "love-fest" between him and Britain. I disputed this, and after a short exchange he retaliated by calling me a "nasty, nasty guy ".
It was a telling response. Now it appears the Guardian has been banned from attending Trump's events in the UK.
My colleagues across the world challenge authority in big and small ways every day. Part of our mission is to give a voice to those who do not have one, to ask the questions they would like to.
If you like the Guardian's approach, please become a Supporter for just $4.99 a month and join a global community of readers helping to fund our journalism.
Ewen MacAskill
Defence and Security Correspondent
The Guardian
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Topic: Guardian Journalist vs Donald Trump (Read 805 times)