'Gannon' Fodder: Real White House Reporters Weigh In

Editor and Publisher ^ | 02/10/05 | Joe Strupp

[Centurion2000]

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), meanwhile, asked McClellan today to “immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. Jeff Gannon.”

Why is a senator in on this feeding frenzy ??

Several White House reporters told E&P they are concerned that Gannon’s ability to get into briefings, and even ask President Bush a question two weeks ago, suggests that it may be too easy for reporters to gain admission to the James S. Brady Briefing Room despite being from a purely partisan or bogus news organization.

I didn't know that news organizations were legally required to be neutral or non-partisan. Were that the case the MSM would be out of business.

"Virtually no one is not allowed in," said Gwen Flanders, a USA Today editor who oversees the paper's White House reporters. "Getting that [day] pass is a simple matter of passing a background check and working for a news organization." But she added that there is not as much scrutiny of the legitimacy of the news organizations: "Who is in the position to say who is not legitimate?"

If he's good enough to pass a Secret Service vetting, he's good enough to be in that newsroom.

[The Shrew]

"I don't think it is good for our profession to have the briefing room hijacked."

Hey Dick, It's a TRADE not a profession. How much education does it take to ask, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW?

The people's briefing room has been hijacked since the early 1970's. The only difference is that Gannon/Gaukert asked a "conservative biased question."

Thanks for the find Pikamax.

TS

[conservative in nyc]

In the wake of revelations about ex-reporter “Jeff Gannon,” veteran White House correspondents told E&P today they could not recall another instance of a credentialed reporter using an alias allowed on that beat.

I smell a challenge. One of those White House beat reporters is probably using an Anglocized or ethnicized name, maiden name or alias.

[GeronL]

What is a 'real' reporter?

Rather? Jaysun Blair?

[Texas_Jarhead]

"... despite being from a purely partisan or bogus news organization."

You mean like the NYT, Bston Globe, et al.....

[The Shrew]

But she added that there is not as much scrutiny of the legitimacy of the news organizations: "Who is in the position to say who is not legitimate?"

In my home town the Rocky Mountain News has a daily circulation of 289,000. That's down from 396,000 in 1999. Gannon claims Talon News had 700,000 readers from actively distributed lists.

Based on those numbers who deserves credentials?

Regards,

TS

[kcvl]

Gwen Flanders grew up in California and Minnesota. Her first career was in radio -- ad copywriter, then disc jockey and newscaster. She switched to newspaper journalism

[CyberAnt]

"questions like those from Gannon and Mokhiber might be out of place"

What a snooty statement that is. What it really means is that the smarmy LEFTIST ELITES don't want to be upstaged by someone asking REAL QUESTIONS.

[kcvl]

Gwen Flanders - She was on the KVSC staff before it existed! Literally, they would record programs and send them to WJON. A couple years later, KVSC got it's start and she was the News Director. Then she went to WJON and worked writing commercials, as Traffic and Community Director and a part-time News Reporter. She now works as the Washington Editor of USA Today.

[ConservativeMind]

The Senator has no authority to "demand" such information.

It's nice, isn't it? The liberals can't handle a conservative using a biased slant, but it's okay for them to do likewise.

It would be interesting for President Bush to invite in only the "conservative" media one day. I'd like to see the mainstream media handle that one.

[Choose Ye This Day]

How about Geraldo Rivera? He was born "Gerald" Riviera.

How about Diane Sawyer? Her real name is Lila Sawyer.

Or Mike Wallace? His real name is Myron.

The best, though, is little Cokie Roberts. How's this for a name change? Her "real" name is: Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs. Try telling me that "Cokie Roberts" isn't a made-up pseudonym.

Source: http://www.famousfolk.com/pages/contact.shtml

[Darkwolf377]

"Some terrorist could invent some publication and put through their name and get in," he said. "It raises the question of whether it is appropriate for the White House Press Office to clear people who are operating under aliases."

Gee, look how the libbie press gets all hot and bothered about Homeland Security when it's THEIR turf!

Why do I have a feeling this bunch will be so very much more sympathetic to security issues from now on?

And someone tell Frank Lautenberg to shut his fat, obnoxious mouth. How dare he demand ANY information about a citizen exercising his free press rights. Who the hell does he think determines who gets to be press, him?

[kcvl]

You signed up today to say that?

[Choose Ye This Day]

Boy, that was quick.

[kingu]

The Senator has no authority to "demand" such information.

I demand his paycheck for the past year. There's about an even chance that either of us will get what we want.

[conservative in nyc]

I think Cokie Boggs married a Roberts, so her last name is no longer Boggs. But where do you get Cokie from Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne?

Thanks. Exactly the type of website I was looking for. Let's have some fun. The WaPo's list of White House correspondents is here. Anyone want to help?

[Choose Ye This Day]

First, try a search on the site for the word "journalist." It's much quicker than going name by name. Actually, there aren't very many journalists listed on this web site.

[Mo1]

Hmmm .. Does Slate or Salon or The New Republic have a paper publication?

Hmmm .. Helen Thomas isn't working for a paper either ...

I suppose the liberals don't think they are real reporters either huh?