Flap over journalist coverage of Palin

[Pangloss]

Interesting story yesterday on press coverage of Sarah Palin. The McCain camp has tried to keep her more or less away from reporters, I guess on the theory that they're not going to get any good coverage from the press. And hey, I guess that's not hard to understand. I mean lets face it, the only Sunday show she's likely to do anytime soon is the kind that begins with a prayer!

 

But the press is hopping mad about the lack of access, and that's not hard to understand either. She's given a grand total of three near-worthless interviews (one of them with Sean Hannity!), and basically the press corps has been reduced to simply shooting her photo ops. They're feeling a bit abused.

 

All together now: "Awwwwww!!!!"

 

But seriously, I'm no fan of the press ("Gee, really Pangloss? Do tell!"), but if I were them I wouldn't play the campaign's game either. Apparently this latest row started when the press was told they could have reporters in the room when she met the Afghan president, but they got something like 29 seconds of presence in the room and were then ushered out without being allowed to ask any questions.

 

I agree with CNN -- pull the reporters and let other outlets cover Palin's photo ops. I'm sure other major outlets would follow suit, and very soon her press pool would consist of reporters from the Jesus rags, Women's Wear Weekly and The Onion. Sounds about right.

 

What do you all think?

 

Couple articles:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/More_on_Palin_press_protection.html

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/23/media-presses-mccain-campaign-for-access-to-palin-meeting/

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/23/politics/fromtheroad/entry4470968.shtml

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/23/palin-now-afraid-to-be-in-the-same-room-as-a-reporter.aspx

[Mr Skeptic]

So, basically you want the press to cooperate in a "prisoner's dilemma" game?

[Phi for All]

I disagree. If I were the press, I would give equal time to all candidates, and then spend most of Palin's coverage telling the people how little access you're getting. "Sarah Palin shook hands with the Afghan president today while the press watched, but we're unsure if she was allowed to say anything besides hello because we were ushered out after less than half a minute. In fact, the McCain campaign has blocked press access to their running mate and will not allow us to ask her any questions."

Perhaps they should replace the photos of Palin with photos of bewildered reporters. That would be hilarious. Every Palin story would be about lack of press access and speculation about why so much fear and secrecy.

[Mr Skeptic]

Heh, heh, heh. I wish I were a reporter, I would totally do that. And it would be an improvement for both press and candidates -- the press reporting the real story (or in this case, lack thereof), and the candidates more likely to be a bit more open.

[Pangloss]

I like it.