New White House press secretary tout's Obama administrations transparency

CNNWhite House Press Secretary Josh Earnest talks to Brian Stelter about what his job so far, and the Obama administration's transparency.

The White House’s new press secretary says the Obama administration is more open than ever before, despite criticisms of the opposite.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who took over the podium last month, said Sunday the White House was nearly the most transparent White House in the modern era, and said the President plans on using unique methods for more public engagement.

“I think the President's record of transparency stands up to any of the record of his predecessors,” Earnest told Brian Stelter on CNN’s “Reliable Sources.”

Earnest made the statement in light of a letter signed by journalism groups that criticized media access to the White House. Though he said the relationship between himself and the press can get testy, Earnest said it’s a necessary evil of his job.

“Well, again, they're all journalists,” he said. “And if the day that they stopped — the day that they sort of sit back and say, ‘We don't need to write a letter, the White House is telling us everything that they're supposed to,’ is the day that they're no longer doing their jobs.”

FUNNYORDIE.COMPresident Obama's appearance on "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis" not only drove a lot of traffic to Healthcare.gov, it got the episode's producers an Emmy nod.

The 37-year-old, who was deputy to former Press Secretary Jay Carney, pointed to recent release of White House salaries as to how it was being more open with the public.

Carney often sparred with reporters over gaining access to the White House, particularly over photo opportunities. In a recent interview with New York Times Magazine, the journalist-turned-press secretary also shot down secrecy rumors — implying there were still always leaks to reporters on a regular basis.

Earnest also discussed one of the President’s recent positive moments: a March appearance on “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis,” which has 22 million views on Funnyordie.com. The viral video, in which Galifianakis is combative and unimpressed with Obama, helped push traffic to Healthcare.gov, Earnest said.

“We're going to be looking for ... a lot of opportunity to really push the envelope and put the President in some unique formats where he can connect with the people in a different way,” Earnest said.