Posted on 02/28/2005 5:47:41 PM PST by finnman69
NEW YORK The White House Correspondents Association announced Monday that it would not seek changes to the White House press-credentialing process, despite complaints from several members that controversial former reporter James Guckert had been able to gain the same access as any other reporter for two years.
Ron Hutcheson, WHCA president and a Knight Ridder White House correspondent, said the decision occurred during Monday's meeting of the WHCA board. It was the first such meeting of the board since Guckert, who uses the name Jeff Gannon, drew attention with his partisan questions and questionable past.
"The board felt like none of us were happy about Gannon being in the briefing room, but we all view it as the price we pay for a system that favors inclusion over keeping someone out," Hutcheson told E&P. "While not perfect, [the current system] is geared toward letting people in."
(Excerpt) Read more at editorandpublisher.com ...
He also added that none of the board members at the meeting believed that Guckert was "a plant" by the Bush administration to insert "softball" questions into the daily briefings.
--also---
interesting analysis here related to bloggers:
Let's unbury the lead in the latest from Editor and Publisher, which covers the Monday meeting of the White House Correspondents Association:
He also added that none of the board members at the meeting believed that Guckert was "a plant" by the Bush administration to insert "softball" questions into the daily briefings.
No changes are planned to credentialing procedures:
"The board felt like none of us were happy about Gannon being in the briefing room, but we all view it as the price we pay for a system that favors inclusion over keeping someone out," Hutcheson told E&P. "While not perfect, [the current system] is geared toward letting people in."
..."The bottom line is that none of us are comfortable with Jeff Gannon posing as a journalist," Hutcheson stated. "But none of us are comfortable with changing the system to keep him out."
This is in line with what we were told on Feb 15:
"I'm not sure we need to do anything," Hutcheson told E&P. "I'm not comfortable in passing judgment on who is a journalist and who isn't. My overriding view is that if I am going to make a mistake, it is going to be on letting people in rather than keeping people out."
Someone please be sure to let me know when this scandal is over.
MORE: Good news for bloggers:
When asked if his view would change in the event that there was a sharp increase in the distribution of day passes for bloggers, writers affiliated with obscure Web sites, and those with obvious partisan leanings, like Guckert, Hutcheson said such a scenario could require a new look. "I do have that concern that we could end up there," he said. "I'll never say never. But I have no idea what the tipping point would be."
When Patrick Sullivan and I are arm-wrestling three chaps and a gal from the Daily Kos while Scott McClellan waits for a question, the tipping point will have arrived.
February 28, 2005 | Permalink
I'll bet this shuts up the screaming leftists - who have been bitching NON-stop about Gannon getting credentialed..
< /SARCASM>
Semper Fi
The White House Correspondents Association is obviously being threatened (or blackmailed???) by Rove into taking this position!!!-Gannon Underground (the web forum formerly known as Democratic Underground)
and that's way it is (sorry Walter).
"He also added that none of the board members at the meeting believed that Guckert was "a plant" by the Bush administration to insert "softball" questions into the daily briefings."
I don't really have much to complain about what the guy said.
Appears the board made a reasonable decision; no changes, but if blogger credentials become a problem, maybe need to look at some changes in the day-to-day passes (sure hope that doesn't happen though...it would be a great experience as a reporter to get in even for a day).
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