Ham lets the N&R have it when they complain (in good humor) about being turned down for an interview with President Bush during his recent visit.
But then there’s J.D. Walker of the Asheboro Courier Tribune, who was granted a spot in the presidential press pool and does nothing but complain:
Participation in the boiling caldron of a presidential press tour is an exhilarating experience that I wouldn’t wish off on anyone.
On the one hand, it was a chance to rub elbows with peers, local and national, and compare operational notes. I got a harrowing glimpse of the interworkings of the current administration. The chilling impact of 9-11 was oppressively apparent in the endless precautions taken.
On the other hand, from a news gathering standpoint, it was the biggest waste of time and gas since my last shopping trip for a swimsuit.
And about as productive, I might add.
….The press group was under the direction of a press nanny, a pleasant young woman and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism. She did not retain any kindred feelings for the press corp. Her job was to herd us where we needed to go and keep us from going where we wanted to go.
…The visit to Victory Junction gave me my only opportunity to speak at the president. I say speak at because he ignored me. The handlers did not. Forget the press nanny. Out of nowhere, a press Nazi came up and informed me, “That’s not the way we do things,” as we were all shepherded to yet another waiting area.
Granted, the N&R’s coverage of Bush’s visit was glowing, almost overwhelming. But is Walker’s report not typical of the way the media has consistently treated the President Bush? It’s certainly a rare day when the leader of the free world visits our area, and all she can do is pick, pick, pick.
