Posted on 02/09/2005 11:10:04 AM PST by hipaatwo
Washington, DC - Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), long time champion of media reform and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules, sent a letter to President George W. Bush today asking him to explain how discredited "reporter" Jeff Gannon was credentialed as a member of the legitimate media by the White House.
The letter follows: Wednesday, February 9, 2005 The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: In light of the mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies, I feel compelled to ask you to address a matter brought to my attention by the Niagara Falls Reporter (article attached), a local newspaper in my district, regarding James "JD" Guckert (AKA Jeff Gannon) of Talon News. According to several credible reports, "Mr. Gannon" has been repeatedly credentialed as a member of the White House press corps by your office and has been regularly called upon in White House press briefings by your Press Secretary Scott McClellan, despite the fact evidence shows that "Mr. Gannon" is a Republican political operative, uses a false name, has phony or questionable journalistic credentials, is known for plagiarizing much of the "news" he reports, and according to several web reports, may have ties to the promotion of the prostitution of military personnel.
Several weeks ago when it was revealed that radio/TV host Armstrong Williams had received payment from your Administration in exchange for his vocal support of the 'No Child Left Behind' initiative, I was stunned. For years now I have been leading the fight in Congress for fairness and accountability in the media; the Williams revelation only underscored the need for a media that has integrity, is balanced and expresses the local interests and concerns of its consumers. Since that time, two more members of the media have been found to have received money from your Administration in exchange for their vocal, yet undisclosed support of Administration policies. And just this morning we have learned that "Mr. Gannon" has resigned his post at the, so called, Talon News amid growing concerns over his controversial background and falsified qualifications. In fact, it appears that "Mr. Gannon's" presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your Administration. Mr. President, I am sure we both agree the White House Press Corps is an honored institution in America that should be beyond the scope of partisan meddling, and that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of our success as a democracy.
Likewise, I am sure we can both agree the American people have the right to expect that journalists who question their President everyday are experienced, independent, and perhaps most importantly, unbiased in their approach. I was already concerned about what appears to be an organized campaign to mask partisan propaganda as legitimate news by your Administration. That we have now learned this same type of deception is occurring inside the White House briefing room itself is even more disturbing.
That is why I am asking you to please explain to the Congress and to the American people how and why the individual known as "Mr. Gannon" was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps? Mr. President, your Administration has driven the so-called "values" debate in this country. But the most important value for those of us in public service should always be honesty and integrity, particularly when considering the manner in which we conduct our affairs of state.
I would appreciate your prompt response on this matter. Respectfully, /LMS Louise M. Slaughter Ranking Member, House Committee on Rules
From the Niagara Falls Reporter on Monday, February 7, 2005 AN OPEN LETTER TO LOUISE SLAUGHTERDear Rep. Slaughter, As a small newspaper located in your district, we are asking for your help. It has come to our attention that an individual who calls himself "Jeff Gannon" has been credentialed by the White House to attend press briefings and presidential news conferences.
He is affiliated with an organization called Talon News, and is frequently called on by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and President Bush. This individual has no background in journalism whatsoever, and his "syndicated column" appears solely on his personal Web site, www.jeffgannon.com. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "Jeff Gannon" isn't even his real name. In his biography at the Talon News site, where he holds the title of "Washington Bureau Chief," he claims to be a graduate of the "Pennsylvania State University System" and the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism. While the 23 schools in the Penn State system award diplomas, the system itself does not, and the Daily News investigation has thus far failed to turn up a "Jeff Gannon" who holds a degree in education from Penn State, as this person claims he does. Furthermore, the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism is a right-wing diploma mill where anyone with $50 and two days to waste can receive a degree. As for Talon News itself, it seems to consist solely of a Web site that links directly to a Republican site called www.gopusa.com.
Both Talon and GOPUSA have the same mailing address, a private residence in Texas. It isn't clear whether anyone at Talon News is paid, as one portion of its site asks, "Want to join the Talon News team? Click here to find out more about being a volunteer reporter for Talon News." Looking at the staff biography section of the site, none of the 10 individuals listed appear to have any training or previous experience in journalism, although all list credentials as Republican activists.
We respectfully ask your office to look into how a partisan political organization and an individual with no credentials as a reporter -- and apparently operating under an assumed name -- landed a coveted spot in the White House press corps. Sincerely, Bruce Battaglia, publisher, Mike Hudson, editor in chief, Rebecca Day, senior editor, David Staba, sports editor, Bill Gallagher, national correspondent, John Hanchette, senior correspondent, Frank Thomas Croisdale, contributing editor, Bill Bradberry, contributing editor, Niagara Falls Reporter.
I'm confused.
I am so glad you got up the nerve to post! Once yu make your first post, it gets easier. In fact, it gets addictive!
Oh, I am SO glad to see you here! You are invaluable in looking this stuff up!
Seat saved. :-)
I think you have this all figured out perfectly.
It is like the old Clinton spin machine back in high gear.
Hmmm...
However, we are better able to understand their methods than we were several years ago. I think we will prevail.
This was the first forum (and only forum) I ever posted on too! It's really scary at first. And you think, I'll never be as smart as these people. You probably won't, but pick a couple issues that are meaningful to you and learn about them. You'll be an expert in no time. You can't be expected to know everything, like me..... LOL! (just kidding). Seriously, if I find myself interested in an issue, I'll read about it first before I make a fool of myself, then, I will publically make a fool of myself posting. Oh well, water under the bridge. Just do your best, ask questions, if you make a mistake, admit it, if you don't understand ask, but don't ask really lame stuff like what does aybabtu mean, and especially, don't post a vanity thread asking that! OMG, you will not hear the end of it! We are for the most part a generous and giving community, but we can spot phonies a mile away. You aren't one of them. Oh, and please feel free to freep mail me if you want to ask something that you don't want on the open forum, I'll be happy to help you out.
We will.
But frankly, right now their snipers are picking off any available targets.
Forget that post
I let down my guard and fell for an old joke
That freeper just knows how to make everyone's individual home page turn up when you click on the link.
Excellent, what can I get you? My treat. I've been reading all the threads today on this, but couldn't post much until now. It doesn't suprise me one bit the standard applied to liberals versus conservatives. This war ain't over yet.
You are wrong
I fight fire with nukes and have experience with journalists - Once upon a time I wrote articles for some of the largest newspapers in the US and also did a bit of TV too
I know of some of these Niagara/Buffalo areas press hacks and could drop some interesting true info on their resumes and biased journalistic methods at the drop of a hat
Like any good reporter I always carried my Sony voice-actuated recorder and the press has no protection from electronic recording as some states give to practicing attorneys, physicians, clergy
Go ahead Niagara pressitutes!
Make My Day!
Credibility? - Qualifications? - Honesty?
Blayne - Rather - Cronkite - Krugman - Mapes - Eason
I can go on and add footnotes and sources and many inside goodies that would smoke them like Virginia hams!
While many journalists sat and drank and rambled on I archived their sleeze tricks and scams and methods of editing, censoring, distorting, lying on mini-tapes
Yes, even in DC with media from USA Today and others.......
I like how you think!
Of course this WH did not put a "ringer" in the press pool.
For crying out loud.
February 02, 2005 4:20 PM ET
snip
Gannon told E&P this afternoon that he had no political affiliation and had never contributed to a political campaign. "Which is more than I can say for some of my colleagues," he added.
He would not discuss Talon News's ties to Republican groups. "I write a news story, I post it, and anything having to do with GOPUSA, I don't know about." Added Gannon, "I'm not the '60 Minutes' producer with the Kerry campaign on speed dial."
Gannon would not reveal his age and was vague about his educational background. He said he had been writing for Talon News for two years.
snip
When asked about being denied a Capitol Hill credential, Gannon told E&P, "I understand their criteria, and I can see where their questions weren't fully answered. But I think their rules do not reflect the reality of a changing media."
snip
Judy Keen, a USA Today White House reporter whose tenure dates back to the first President Bush, said Gannon was always cordial with her and may not be the only reporter with a political angle. "I do have some questions about whether he is a legitimate journalist," she admitted. "But, if you start jerking people's credentials based on who they work for, that is a dangerous road to go down. He is not the only one who occasionally includes a personal opinion."
But Gannon's actions have drawn an angry response from Media Matters For America, a Web site run by David Brock. On Monday, Brock posted a letter that he had apparently sent to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan urging that Gannon's credentials be revoked. "Mr. Gannon's conduct during your briefings, as well as presidential press conferences, further suggests that his true role is that of a partisan operative rather than an independent journalist," Brock's letter stated in part.
snip
In his conversation with E&P today, Gannon admitted having a conservative viewpoint, but said most of the White House press corps "have liberal leanings that are reflected in their questions and their news stories. I don't think anyone in that room is free of bias. They all reflect their own personal views or the editorial policy of the organizations they represent. I think I am no more or less partisan than any of my colleagues."
"The story isn't me, the story is that it doesn't seem that there is room for a single conservative in the White House press corps," he added.
Gannon believeds many of the questions from White House reporters are unnecessarily hostile and picking on everything Bush says: "Every single word he says, they jump on and make it a headline."
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:HrZL5cicWWsJ:editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp%3Fvnu_content_id%3D1000787908+Julie+Davis,+reporter&hl=en
Oh, you are good! I'm glad you are on our side.
You sound like the perfect candidate to represent FR in the WH press room.
Thanks for the explanation.
Amazing what is possible with these here computers, isn't it!
(ahem)
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