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Will Obama WH keep background briefings?
Michael Calderone's Blog —
... or other talks to a group of reporters while remaining nameless in print.
That didn't work out at Gibbs' first presser, when he kept mentioning "Greg" -- as in White House Counsel Gregory Craig -- who had done a background briefing with reporters before the on the record, televised briefing with reporters. It took the Journal's Jonathan Weisman to ask the obvious question of whether the press can now use Greg's name.
Slate's Jack Shafer doesn't see a need for this process, common in the Bush White House, to continue with the next ...
More Secret Briefings To Come at Obama White House?
David Corn —
... This may seem an insider-y issue. (My other questions concerned global warming and Afghanistan.) But it is symbolic. And my friend Jack Shafer, Slate's media writer, has joined the cause. On Monday, he penned (or is it tapped?) a column on the matter. He writes: ...
Access Journalism — Business As Usual?
Firedoglake —
... The reportorial practice of letting government officials speak without taking responsibility for their words has been an issue with the public and is being questioned now by some journalists, as shown by this article from Slate’s Jack Shafer. ...
POTUS on background?
Michael Calderone's Blog —
... I am less concerned about sessions like this than advisers and officers of the Administration allowed to speak on background, as with Greg Craig earlier. I think there is zero justification for that. It's an insidious practice that brings out the worst on both sides: action without accountability for the White House, fear of taking a stand on the press side.
Meet the 'senior administration official'
Michael Calderone's Blog —
... I thought that after Robert Gibbs' first outing -- where he referred twice by name to an administration official who briefed reporters earlier -- the practice might get reviewed. Following that briefing, Slate's Jack Shafer question why this practice is continues when the talk these days is for more transparency in government. Talk aside, it looks like business as usual in this respect. ...
