Comments on: Coleman Press Fail http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525 A Daily Digest of Twin Cities News, Arts and Culture Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:34:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: tom http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199532 tom Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:22:29 +0000 #comment-199532 Just for the record, I was very polite upon entry. I didn't have my camera rolling, I identified myself openly. When entry was denied I tried to engage in a civil conversation. In the end I was left no choice but to turn the camera on and confront the staffer, at which point I was still being pretty polite.<br /> <br /> I've been a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists for two years now, was accepted into a journalism training fellowship at Michigan State's Knight School of Environmental Journalism, and have had my blog recognized as a serial publication by the Library of Congress (1940-3933). Despite the fact that I wasn't ever given an answer as to why I wasn't allowed in, I would venture to say it wasn't because I'm not a journalist, but because I was with the UpTake. Just for the record, I was very polite upon entry. I didn’t have my camera rolling, I identified myself openly. When entry was denied I tried to engage in a civil conversation. In the end I was left no choice but to turn the camera on and confront the staffer, at which point I was still being pretty polite.

I’ve been a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists for two years now, was accepted into a journalism training fellowship at Michigan State’s Knight School of Environmental Journalism, and have had my blog recognized as a serial publication by the Library of Congress (1940-3933). Despite the fact that I wasn’t ever given an answer as to why I wasn’t allowed in, I would venture to say it wasn’t because I’m not a journalist, but because I was with the UpTake.

]]> By: justpbob http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199525 justpbob Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:27:46 +0000 #comment-199525 "I think that's wise, and wish we'd gotten off to a better start with Coleman's staff."<br /> <br /> Step one: Tell Tom he can't keep wearing his Franken t-shirt to Coleman's news conferences.<br /> “I think that’s wise, and wish we’d gotten off to a better start with Coleman’s staff.”

Step one: Tell Tom he can’t keep wearing his Franken t-shirt to Coleman’s news conferences.

]]> By: chuck http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199520 chuck Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:45:29 +0000 #comment-199520 @jderusha - You are probably right, but thanks for being supportive and contacting the SPJ president!<br /> <br /> @TBartel - It really would've been easier for everyone to just let us in and stream live video of his press event. Everybody would be happy. Obviously, not letting us in to some press events doesn't change the stories we're going to do, but it does create a new story that makes them look bad.<br /> <br /> In my live video today I mentioned a short conversation with Roger Buoen at MinnPost, former managing editor of the Strib. He said it's a tough issue, and the best way to get access is to establish relationships over time like Strib/MinnPost veteran reporters have done. I think that's wise, and wish we'd gotten off to a better start with Coleman's staff. @jderusha – You are probably right, but thanks for being supportive and contacting the SPJ president!

@TBartel – It really would’ve been easier for everyone to just let us in and stream live video of his press event. Everybody would be happy. Obviously, not letting us in to some press events doesn’t change the stories we’re going to do, but it does create a new story that makes them look bad.

In my live video today I mentioned a short conversation with Roger Buoen at MinnPost, former managing editor of the Strib. He said it’s a tough issue, and the best way to get access is to establish relationships over time like Strib/MinnPost veteran reporters have done. I think that’s wise, and wish we’d gotten off to a better start with Coleman’s staff.

]]> By: jderusha http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199519 jderusha Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:35:21 +0000 #comment-199519 Tom, it doesn't really fit into the "Good Question" format. But I have alerted the local SPJ chapter, and the President of the National SPJ is here in Minnesota, and I'm told they're on the case.<br /> <br /> I hate to say it, but I'm not sure many people outside of this group care who Norm Coleman lets into a news conference. Tom, it doesn’t really fit into the “Good Question” format. But I have alerted the local SPJ chapter, and the President of the National SPJ is here in Minnesota, and I’m told they’re on the case.

I hate to say it, but I’m not sure many people outside of this group care who Norm Coleman lets into a news conference.

]]> By: DouglasG http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199517 DouglasG Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:30:01 +0000 #comment-199517 They asked, "What makes a journalist" in the video and no one from the Coleman camp could answer that question. If they want to exclude someone for some reason, they should have a written policy stating who is and who is not allowed. So, if someone asks, "What makes a journalist" the people can say, "Someone who has this" or "Someone who works for that" Instead the Coleman people get to say, "You are free to leave" like schmoes. They asked, “What makes a journalist” in the video and no one from the Coleman camp could answer that question. If they want to exclude someone for some reason, they should have a written policy stating who is and who is not allowed. So, if someone asks, “What makes a journalist” the people can say, “Someone who has this” or “Someone who works for that” Instead the Coleman people get to say, “You are free to leave” like schmoes.

]]> By: richg http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199516 richg Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:13:09 +0000 #comment-199516 What's really problematic for Coleman is there isn't a consistent stated policy. I've run enough contentious press conferences to know that your media policy, including bloggers and independent media, needs to be front and center -- standards for follow up questions, who can be in the room, etc.etc.etc. That Coleman's people are continually pounding their head against the wall on this is baffling. They're not rank amateurs...so why are they acting like they are? What’s really problematic for Coleman is there isn’t a consistent stated policy. I’ve run enough contentious press conferences to know that your media policy, including bloggers and independent media, needs to be front and center — standards for follow up questions, who can be in the room, etc.etc.etc. That Coleman’s people are continually pounding their head against the wall on this is baffling. They’re not rank amateurs…so why are they acting like they are?

]]> By: TBartel http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199515 TBartel Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:12:07 +0000 #comment-199515 From a purely practical point of view, Norm would have been better off to let UpTake in and let what he had to say be seen by their smallish audience. Instead, banning UpTake makes him look like an ass to a much larger audience. Of course, he has the 206 vote mandate, so he can do whatever he wants. Also, of course, that much larger audience that we and Chuck's friends reach are not exactly Norm's core constituency. So Jason, are you doing a story on this? From a purely practical point of view, Norm would have been better off to let UpTake in and let what he had to say be seen by their smallish audience. Instead, banning UpTake makes him look like an ass to a much larger audience. Of course, he has the 206 vote mandate, so he can do whatever he wants. Also, of course, that much larger audience that we and Chuck’s friends reach are not exactly Norm’s core constituency. So Jason, are you doing a story on this?

]]> By: justpbob http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199508 justpbob Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:16:31 +0000 #comment-199508 "I like all reporters."<br /> <br /> Heh. Liar! “I like all reporters.”

Heh. Liar!

]]> By: justpbob http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199506 justpbob Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:13:41 +0000 #comment-199506 PS: Not only do I have the fedora, I've got the raincoat, too.<br /> <br /> Some looks never go out of style... PS: Not only do I have the fedora, I’ve got the raincoat, too.

Some looks never go out of style…

]]> By: jderusha http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/13525#comment-199505 jderusha Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:13:39 +0000 #comment-199505 we're a likeable bunch. just ask the general public. we’re a likeable bunch. just ask the general public.

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