Posted on 01/18/2017 6:33:47 AM PST by Ciaphas Cain
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT ELECT:
In these final days before your inauguration, we thought it might be helpful to clarify how we see the relationship between your administration and the American press corps.
It will come as no surprise to you that we see the relationship as strained. Reports over the last few days that your press secretary is considering pulling news media offices out of the White House are the latest in a pattern of behavior that has persisted throughout the campaign: You’ve banned news organizations from covering you. You’ve taken to Twitter to taunt and threaten individual reporters and encouraged your supporters to do the same. You’ve advocated for looser libel laws and threatened numerous lawsuits of your own, none of which has materialized. You’ve avoided the press when you could and flouted the norms of pool reporting and regular press conferences. You’ve ridiculed a reporter who wrote something you didn’t like because he has a disability.
All of this, of course, is your choice and, in a way, your right. While the Constitution protects the freedom of the press, it doesn’t dictate how the president must honor that; regular press conferences aren’t enshrined in the document.
But while you have every right to decide your ground rules for engaging with the press, we have some, too. It is, after all, our airtime and column inches that you are seeking to influence. We, not you, decide how best to serve our readers, listeners, and viewers. So think of what follows as a backgrounder on what to expect from us over the next four years.
(Excerpt) Read more at cjr.org ...
Good luck with that!!!
So, how's that working out for you, Bunkie?
bump for later.
Let's take the last one first. Cripples cannot demand compassion or special attention. It can only be given voluntarily if they earn it. Otherwise they can just GTH.
As for the "norms" of pool reporting,it must be remembered that the president sets the rules for how his house is organized and run, and he has the last word on what the "norms" are.
A single competent reporter can represent the press so long as he/she/it is actually professional and impartial, the transparency goal is satisfied.
If you want to attend a press conference, but you're not adult enough to avoid making it a debate with the president, you should be doing something else.
First press conference of President Trump: walks out to the podium, extends middle finger, turns around and walks away.
That is the only thing these people deserve.
First press conference of President Trump: walks out to the podium, extends middle finger, turns around and walks away.
That is the only thing these people deserve.
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