News-Record.com

Interesting how elected officials try to make the distinction between press and other people.

Reminds me of a conversation that I've had many times that goes like this:

Politico X: I'm not talking to the press.

Me: Well, how about the general public? You know, the folks who elected you to office? The people that you campaigned to represent?

Politico X: I only answer questions from my constituents.

Me: Well, I live here, therefore I'm your constituent.

Politico X: I'm not talking to reporters.

Me: Look, the only thing that makes me any different here is that I work for a newspaper. And I'm betting that your constituents are interested in this.

... and so on.

I wonder if we could get people to share their memories and photos of presidential visits to the state?

Mark, did it make you uncomfortable to be giving money to the campaign? Did you have to get your boss or a higher-up to approve that expenditure?

Hurrary for the N & O for ignoring the stupid "closed press" edicts issued by the political campaigns. Journalistic ethics prevented newspapers from paying for access to fundraisers and other events "closed to the press" but nowdays paying seems to be the only way to gain access to these events. Hopefully the campaigns will realize that they can no longer restrict campaign events to the press because these days everybody is a potential reporter and I can't see the campaigns locking out anybody with a cell phone or a blackberry.

I didn't hesitate to publish audio of the event sent to me by a non-journalist who attended.

Some discussion of the issues raised by closed events in the age of the internet here.

writing on my phone from the Obama rally in Winston...

Yes-the expenditure was approved in advance and our entry was done with malace of forethought.

I wouldn't call it troubling...the campaign made a decision not to credential press for the event but let in the gemeral public...i'm part of the public.

Over all my attitude is this - if your campaign doesn't want something reported, don't let it happen...had we been restrained from entey we would have reported the story another way.

And yes, I did a recording but a- felt the quality was too bad to post and b- didn't think she said much of anything different than at other campaign stops so why waste your time with it?

Writing on your phone or not, this is astonishing....

"malace of forethought"

"...didn't think she said much of anything different than at other campaign stops so why waste your time with it?"

If you posted full audio of the Graham event, then audio of GSO might be redundant.

But if not...well, not everyone went to the Graham event, and people might want more than the reports doled out by the pros and the campaign itself.

There is value to the audio in terms of setting the atmosphere and giving a more complete report of the appearance.

bee...you're right, it should be "malice."

Ed: It's not just the Graham event. What Clinton said at the Greensboro fundraiser is what she has been saying throughout the state for the past two weeks, with the exception of the gas tax line. If you think it has some value, then bless your heart for putting it up.

Has the N&R posted audio of any of these events?

Ed: We've done video of some of their campaign events, which is promoted at the bottom of our front page.

Binker, Binker, Binker.

The words are: "malice aforethought."

Sheesh. Perhaps your editor oughta throw a dictionary at you, although these days, your editor might just send you an email - lot less pain than in my day. And yes, I am almost as old as JR..

Almost, I say.

I've had quite enough things thrown at me today, thank you.

So...we get "some video," and the reporter's view of what the "audience" really needs to know, all cut to fit the N&R's time and space constraints -- but the idea of posting uncut audio of an entire event gets a "bless your heart."

Old media habits die hard, and so dies the old media.

Ed:

As to the substance of the point: Look, Obama and Clinton have been saying substantially the same thing and their rallies for much of the past month. Part of the value of a reporter or news organization is to try to figure out what's different and newsworthy and highlight that.

That's hardly elitists, or snobbish, or whatever else you're trying to imply.

What gets the "bless your heart" is the somewhat self-satisfied attitude you're projecting here. I'm sorry, but I can't help but feeling you're picking a fight just to pick a fight.

I was a MSM copy editor for 10 years, so typos usually ring my bell. But for someone writing on the run for a blog, my normal standards can take a rest. I'm glad to get the news, especially from a "closed" event. And I appreciate the immediate interaction that blogging can bring to a discussion like this.

Calling all Obama supporters to look at this

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-03-16-obama_N.htm

and then decide who to vote for ?

DID THE COCK CROW THREE TIMES BEFORE OBAMA'S THIRD DENIAL OF HIS "MASTER" JEREMIAH WRIGHT?

I THINK OBAMA'S "CHICKENS" HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!

DON'T FORGET 9/11 --- OR WRIGHT, BOMBER AYERS, REZKO, FARRAKHAN, SINCLAIR AND ALL THE OTHER ANTI-AMERICANS AND TERRORISTS OBAMA IS CLOSE TO.

VOTE HILLARY 2008!