Networks Throw Tantrum, Demand Access to Palin’s Meetings
The alphabet networks had a little tiff with the McCain campaign today, when the campaign tried to limit their access to Sarah Palin’s meetings with foreign officials: Sarah Palin Meets World Leaders — Reporters Kept Away?
There’s a battle going on right now over how the networks will be allowed to cover Sarah Palin’s big day of visits in NY with world leaders. … The networks had arranged for a “pool” camera- one camera to cover the meetings, whose video would be pooled or shared with all networks. Such arrangements are standard when dealing with intimate high-level meetings between leaders and candidates. But typically, along with cameras, there is an editorial presence— at least one print reporter, one TV reporter and one radio reporter is standard. Today, the McCain campaign had said it would allow only one editorial person inside. Now, the campaign is saying it wants only the camera inside with no editorial presence. All of the networks are objecting. Stay tuned.
The networks have voted to BAN any use of the photographs/video in protest.
12 Noon update: Word has come in that a CNN producer WILL be allowed to accompany the camera at these meetings. This issue appears to be resolved.
Meanwhile, the networks are having no trouble getting access to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He’ll be Larry King’s special guest on CNN tonight. Retch.
Frank says: