Reporter Blows the Lid Off DNC “Secret Media Meeting”

[Rheo]

Conservative Daily News:

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, N.C. this year. As The Charlotte Observer reports, the DNC committee has decided to shorten the 2012 national convention from 4 days to three, and has also decided to move the events to Charlotte’s two biggest outdoor arenas, Bank of America Stadium and Charlotte Motor Speedway. On Thursday, Mark Washburn, also a reporter with The Charlotte Observer, expressed his dismay about the way 500 reporters that were called to the BOA stadium for a tour of their new September digs for the DNC convention this year, in which were told that the meeting would be strictly “off the record” and kept hush-hush, as in no telling folks what was said at this meeting.

It wasn’t the price of reporting this years event that rankled Mr. Washburn, which includes their designated “spots” to do their stand up reporting going for $1200 to $1800 bucks, or the six packs of Budweiser having to be bought from the areas vendor for $31.50 a pop, or even the revelation that the “media suites” would cost the reporter’s expense accounts about $25 grand. All of that was taken with a grain of salt, as many media elitists stated, “it was less than they paid in Denver four years ago.” What rankled Mr. Washburn during the media tour for the 2012 DNC convention was the “cone of silence” demanded of them during the first order of business discussion. Mr. Washburn had the audacity to stand up to speak out against being told that things discussed at this meeting would be “off the record.” In his own words, Mr. Washburn doesn’t like off- the-record. He prefers in-the-newspaper. Good for him.

So what happened when Mr. Washburn stood up and spoke out against the gestapo-style cone of silence being imposed on them by Karen Burchard, the director of media logistics for this event?

[clearvision]

Let the fun begin.

[Valin]

Conservative Daily News:

 

 

 

It wasn’t the price of reporting this years event that rankled Mr. Washburn, which includes their designated “spots” to do their stand up reporting going for $1200 to $1800 bucks, or the six packs of Budweiser having to be bought from the areas vendor for $31.50 a pop, or even the revelation that the “media suites” would cost the reporter’s expense accounts about $25 grand. All of that was taken with a grain of salt, as many media elitists stated, “it was less than they paid in Denver four years ago.” What rankled Mr. Washburn during the media tour for the 2012 DNC convention was the “cone of silence” demanded of them during the first order of business discussion. Mr. Washburn had the audacity to stand up to speak out against being told that things discussed at this meeting would be “off the record.” In his own words, Mr. Washburn doesn’t like off- the-record. He prefers in-the-newspaper. Good for him.

 

Excuse me! Is this SOP for both parties? Actually is this the DNC or the management of the stadium?

Either way could this not be construed as paying money for a story?

[Argyle58]

Outdoor venues? Wonder who you'd have to pay for storms in Charlotte on September 3rd - 6th?

[Casino67]

Outdoor venues? Wonder who you'd have to pay for storms in Charlotte on September 3rd - 6th?

 

It IS the hurricane season.

[Valin]

Outdoor venues? Wonder who you'd have to pay for storms in Charlotte on September 3rd - 6th?

 

It IS the hurricane season.

 

 

Keep a good thought!