Palin bans reporters from meetings with leaders

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

This just proves she much smarter than I thought she was......political reporting so god awful.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Palin press may boycott UN conference Kenneth P. Vogel
1 hour, 11 minutes ago
 


NEW YORK – Journalists, displeased with Sarah Palin’s efforts to restrict their access to her, are threatening not to cover her events surrounding the United Nations conference here unless they're allowed more access.

The unfolding boycott is the latest development in a rocky relationship between Palin’s handlers and the press, in which the campaign has sought to tightly control her interactions with the media.

The campaign had originally indicated that the print reporters following her campaign would be among the small group of journalists allowed to attend the so-called “pool sprays” before Palin’s meetings with dignitaries on the sidelines of the U.N. meetings.

The sprays are basically glorified photo opportunities during which journalists can snap photos and film footage and – if they’re lucky – shout a question or two at Palin and her company before she adjourns for private meetings. On Tuesday, those meetings were to include Afghan President Karzai and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

But the imbroglio began developing Tuesday morning when Palin’s handlers informed the small print press contingent covering her campaign that the print reporter designated to cover the events, Elizabeth Holmes of the Wall Street Journal, would not be allowed to cover the sprays.

The campaign’s reasoning was that there were not going to be questions or statements at the sprays, so they were only appropriate for photographers and cameramen.

The campaign also at first moved to bar CNN, the television network designated for pool duty, from sending its editorial producer – basically a hybrid print/video journalist – though the campaign budged when the network threatened to withhold its cameras as well.

With Palin’s first meeting set to begin at noon, that leaves the print reporters on the outs.

UPDATE: After shutting the print pooler, Holmes, out of the spray before Palin’s meeting with Afghan President Karzai—“rudely,” according to Holmes—the campaign relented and agreed to let her cover the sprays before Palin’s next two meetings, with Colombian President Uribe and Kissinger. Updated story forthcoming.
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The Press:

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Press:

So you don't think Palin should have to answer questions? We don't know jack sh**t about her you do realize that? People excuse the inexperience argument by countering that Obama himself is inexperienced. But the difference is that Obama has taken countless numbers of questions from reporters and people. He has been covered like a celebrity for these last two years and I think people have a pretty good idea of who he is and what he believes in. We don't know anything about Palin and whether she is up to the task.

Wrong, Sbane, I do think she needs to answer questions.  I doubt this is the venue for it, but yes, I think she needs more Q & A time.  The press are a bunch of crybabies though.