WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: WHAT IS A REPORTER?

Drudge Report ^ | Thu Feb 10 2005 20:49:03 ET

[Brian Mosely]

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: WHAT IS A REPORTER?

Thu Feb 10 2005 20:49:03 ET

White House spokesman Scott McClellan On Thursday challenged liberal media activists, who are currently feigning outrage over events surrounding "Jeff Gannon," to examine the definition of reporter in the new century.

"In this day and age, when you have a changing media, it's not an easy issue to decide or try to pick and choose who is a journalist. It gets into the issue of advocacy journalism," McClellan said.

"Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room.

"There are a number of people in that room that express their points of view, and there are people in that room that represent traditional media, they represent talk radio, they're columnists, and they represent online news organizations."

Developing...

[NonValueAdded]

Yeah, what is Helen Thomas and why would she have any more right than JG to be there?

[swilhelm73]

Well, according the the MSM, this guy is an unbiased reporter;

[jennyjenny]

No kidding. But you know what, I don't really want to know about Helen Thomas' personal life or sexual preferences. It grosses me out just thinking about it.

[Brimack34]

The MSM gets there talking points from the DNC. Why can't we go to the briefing and ask a question? Why does it have to be a reporter? They all ask the same question.

[dandelion]

Scott McClellan gets it - and the Old Media press corp doesn't. It's why their days are numbered...

The New Media is already here, and there's nothing they can do to stop it.

[woofie]

Helen is a practitioner of voodoo reporting

[blanknoone]

It gets into the issue of advocacy journalism," McClellan said. ...There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room.

The MSM gets there talking points from the DNC.

Actually, I think the DNC gets its talking points from the MSM nowadays.

[cripplecreek]

Nope no bias here either.

[Darkwolf377]

I was all prepared to see the WH spin away on this, but this is refreshingly candid. We have FREE SPEECH and FREEDOM OF THE PRESS in this country, damnit--where does it say the freakin PRESS get to decide who gets those rights?!

Stephanopolous

Matthews

Russert

Rather

[RJL]

Journalism is a trade, anyone who says they are a journalist, is a journalist.

[FlipWilson]

The MSM is trying to stop it by resorting to dirty tricks and smear tactics. The MSM should watch which doors it opens. Some members of the MSM could find themselves on the receiving end of their own tactics.

[Kleon]

I'm a feature columnist!

[stevem]

No kidding. But you know what, I don't really want to know about Helen Thomas' personal life or sexual preferences.

Well, I don't want to know that much either. It is obvious, however, that at least one of her parents was a slab of cork.

[GSlob]

An inanimate object, which, however, sometimes moves and occasionally produces sounds.

[Txsleuth]

I am glad that McClellan said that---none of them except Les Kinsolving ever have an original question---they all ask the same question, they just rephrase it AFTER they speechify---

That is what McClellan needs to do, let the reporters know who is in charge---he is.

[Howlin]

I am Buckhead.

[Richard Kimball]

I've been wondering about this ever since the "controversy" erupted. I've worked for something like five small town newspapers and magazines. As far as credentials, I have none. Where does one go to get credentials? I'm a member of the Texas Press Association, through one of the newspapers for which I freelance, but there's no credentialing to it. The newspaper sends my photo and dues in annually, and I get a card.

The old media should think before entering into this fight. Originally, they claimed the blogger was involved with homosexual prostitution rings, which is a serious charge, unless you happen to be a Massachussettes congressman running the ring out of your office. Now, it appears that the involvement was limited to running a domain registration service, and some of the companies registering with him were homosexual dating services. Does the Oldstream media really want people going through the trash cans and internet caches of their reporters? They're picking a very dangerous road for themselves in order to take down someone of no particular consequence.

[deport]

Helen is a practitioner of voodoo reporting

---

Yes but she'll never attrack the following to compare to New Orleans Marie Laveau..... the voodoo queen

[deport]

Does the Oldstream media really want people going through the trash cans and internet caches of their reporters? They're picking a very dangerous road for themselves in order to take down someone of no particular consequence.

---

That's exactly why I think you'll see this die quickly by the MSM.... the blogs, online stuff may keep it up but not the print/radio/tv media, imo.