Press Corps Threatens a Mini-Boycott of McCain Campaign

[bigtree]

from Washington Independent: http://washingtonindependent.com/6894/media-revolts-against-palin-photo-ops-with-foreign-leaders


Media Revolts Against Palin Photo-Ops With Foreign Leaders

The New York Times‘ Michael Cooper reports that the liberal, McCain-hating* media are mad as hell, and might not be willing to take it much longer. As Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin meets with foreign leaders and American foreign policy heavyweights at the United Nations in New York City today, the McCain campaign attempted to enact a new, even more restrictive media policy for covering the meetings: cameras only. That means no producers, and no print writers. (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/23/politics/fromtheroad/entry4470968.shtml)

" . . . the McCain-Palin campaign’s sharp limitations on coverage of the meetings have sparked a mini-revolt – and a threatened boycott — among the press corps.

The campaign plans to bar print reporters from the meetings, and to limit coverage to brief photo-ops for a still photographer and a television camera. The television stations, though, are objecting, noting that they have a policy of not sending cameras to cover events without a producer, who provided editorial guidance.

A stand-off has ensued, with the networks threatening not to send cameras. The newspapers are trying to get back into the act as well.

Generally, events such as this are covered by a small “pool” of reporters, which includes writers from the wire services, a newspaper, a photographer, and a network or cable news crew, including a producer. CBS’ Scott Conroy sheds a little more light on the impact of such a policy: (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/23/politics/fromtheroad/entry4470968.shtml)

This means that the McCain/Palin campaign would get the benefit of free pictures of Palin’s meeting with world leaders without having to face the possibility that the candidate might have to answer a question from the media.

Television networks, including CBS News maintain a policy that if they are prevented from having an editorial presence at an event, they will not allow cameras to shoot it.

TV producers also often act as reporters and maintain blogs. Barring them also prevents the media from picking up and reporting any tidbits of the conversation. Politico’s Ken Vogel reports that the campaign relented somewhat and allowed CNN’s producer to sit in, but barred a print reporter.

As many are noting with increasing frequency, it is now nearly a month and a half since Sen. John McCain has held a press conference, and Palin has never taken questions from her press corps since she became the vice presidential nominee. The campaign’s actions indicate a desire to further clamp down on the media’s access. The reporters are in a tight spot — they are paid to cover whatever the McCain campaign does, so they don’t have the option of not doing their jobs. Today’s events prove that if they make enough noise, they can at least stop the campaign from shutting them out further.



UPDATE: McCain has scheduled a press conference TODAY at 4 p.m. EDT.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. The media "revolts"

These fucking lapdogs who were content to let Sarah Palin get away without ever having to say a word to them, who keep publishing McCain's bullshit, who keep ignoring Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who do whatever the fuck the White House tells them to do - they now "revolt"?

They're already revolting, in my opinion, and have been for a long time.

[bigtree]

2. right, but there are some in the press corps who have been providing good coverage

. . . coverage that we've used in our own attacks, much like the McCain campaign has advantaged themselves of that reporting (despite their complaints)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Agreed, yes.

But I'm so put off by the media. If you have time, you might want to read a brilliant work on the role of the media leading up to and into the Iraqi invasion - put together by the guy who's editor of Editor and Publisher, Greg Mitchell: "So Wrong For So Long."

http://tinyurl.com/4t5joo

I keep meaning to re-read my copy, but I'm reading "Angler," about Dick Cheney, and there are only so many times during the day that my head can explode.......................

[bigtree]

4. c'mon

:kick:

[donco6]

5. The should just print the press releases with stills . . .

. . . like they usually do.

[bigtree]

6. the AP reports that Palin's staff relented on the press ban

The AP reports that Palin's staff relented on a press ban at Palin's tetes-a-tete with world leaders when some in the corps protested:

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, initially barred reporters from her first meetings with world leaders Tuesday, but reversed course after they protested.

At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected to the exclusion of reporters and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion. Presidents and members of Congress routinely allow reporters to attend photo opportunities along with photographers and the reporters sometimes are able to ask questions during the brief photo sessions, usually held at the beginning of private meetings.

The report goes on to say that CNN was granted the attendance of a producer when it threatened to pull its camera crew entirely. Although reporters were eventually allowed to attend, there was no mention of Palin answering questions.


read: http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/09/23/palin-yes-to-reporters-no-to-ny-city-folk/

[burythehatchet]

7. The Sarah Palin Reality Show is getting soooooo old. Gidget meets Kissinger

:puke:

[trueblue2007]

8. send this thread / news hating Palin to everyone you know.

[BeHereNow]

9. They so clearly don't want any record of Palin making a fool of herself.

The little meet up is SUCH a fucking farce to begin with.
I hope the press corp will ban the McCain camp.
They should not receive coverage of their mockery
of the American people.

Palin as VP is such an insult to our intelligence.

BHN