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McCain charging for election night coverage
Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 4:53 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> For all of you who were shocked and outraged over the Obama campaign charging for election coverage space, hold on to your hats. McCain's campaign announced they will be charging also:
FROM THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN....
Workspace in the Press Filing Center
Workspace may be available for a fee. Space is limited and not guaranteed. The ESTIMATED cost is $695 per person.
Workspace will include:
Table space
Power
Wi-Fi
Cable TV viewing
Food and Beverage service throughout election day. And if you were dismayed by the Obama situation it's much worse at McCain. There is NO option for free coverage. None. Nada. Pay or you don't play. And note this is only for workspace, there is ONLY pool coverage for the remarks. So even if you pay you won't see the candidate unless you're in the pool.
And ya'll thought the Chicago deal was Draconian.
Have a nice day. |
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Jason Frizzelle, Photographer
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Wilmington | NC | USA | Posted: 5:05 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> I call that fair and balanced. |
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Daniel Putz, Photographer
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Jefferson | MD | USA | Posted: 5:12 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> 'Cable TV' with Election-night coverage provided by FOX! heh. |
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Jeff Brehm, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 5:51 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> I wonder what the going rate is for covering Libertarians. |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 5:56 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> THE ROLLING STONES started the 3 song rule for covering rock shows in the 70's, and now Obama starts charging to cover elections. Small news outlets will suffer and this will only get worse. Never trust any political person. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 6:00 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> Actually my understanding is election night coverage at the McCain headquarters is pool only?
Maybe someone like George can fill in the details.
Charging for workspace, data service, food, parking, etc. is not unlike what the NFL charges for space in their media compound and data at the Super Bowl or the high cost of Internet at the NCAA Final Four... |
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Rainier Ehrhardt, Photographer
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Augusta | GA | USA | Posted: 6:00 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> Hey David,
Do you know what it's 3 songs btw? I've never been able to get the same answer twice. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 6:21 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> bert, from what I read seeing McCain is pool only. You can be there and have a workspace but you have to pony up the money no matter what. Also the $695 is only an estimate... It could be higher. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 7:22 PM on 10.23.08 |
| ->> My point is ... if it's pool only, why cover it? |
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Joshua Scheide, Photographer
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Odessa | TX | USA | Posted: 7:23 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> I guess I can understand the NFL and other franchises charging for usage as they are private institutions.
But covering our public political system? I can understand requiring a small fee for using the space and amenities, but charging for access in itself smells of breaching first amendment responsibilities of the candidates. No? |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 7:28 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> "if it's pool, why cover it?
EXACTLY. |
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Bryon Houlgrave, Photographer
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Waukesha | Wi | USA | Posted: 7:55 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> How long will it be before we see this on the local level? Can we soon expect mayoral candidates to begin charging members of the media for election coverage? What about covering a school board election.
And why stop at election coverage? When will they begin charging fees to cover the presidential state of the union address? Your governor's state of the state address? Mayor-attended ribbon cutting ceremonies? |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 8:40 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> It's getting cold here, so it IS time to cover the pool.
Regarding Palin/McCain, well, someone has got to pay for her new power suit!
So when will newspapers start charging the NFL to report on their totally fictitious weekly 'news' event of a monopoly run business? Professional sports is entertainment; politics is 'real.'
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha |
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Jack Kurtz, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 8:49 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> The note we got (at the AZ Republic) is that it will be pool. And this was in the AP story,
"But the Republican presidential nominee plans to address another group of supporters and a small group of reporters on the hotel lawn; his remarks will be simultaneously piped electronically to the party inside and other reporters in a media filing center, aides said.
Aides said Thursday that the arrangement was the result of space limitations and that McCain might drop by the election watch party at some other point.
Only a small press "pool" mostly those who have traveled regularly with the candidate on his campaign plane, plus a few local Arizona reporters and other guests will be physically present when McCain speaks."
Not great.
jack |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:20 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> so this might be a little off topic, but what the hell I started the thread. I received an email a couple of hours ago about my starting this thread from someone who hid their address (I tried to respond and it bounced back) I'm obviously not smart enough to do something like that but I thought I should share the email with ya'll. it is now one of my faves!!
here goes:
Your latest post shows just how transparently partisan you are. You are an
embarrassment to journalism ! If you had any personal honor or a shred of
professionalism, you would not telegraph your political views in every message
thread that you write.
I hope the cuts to print media continue and land "journalists" like you on the
curb one day very soon because that's exactly where you deserve to be.
You and pseudo journalists like yourself should be ashamed of yourselves !
By the way, the death spiral at the New York Times continues and it's gonna
hit The News & Observer very, very soon - I will personally celebrate when
they boot you ass out, you hate-filled, partisan robot.
yikes!
geez I was just putting out info I got off the internet.
and I only have one thing to say to this person:
MOM! I know I have been a disappiontment to you for not being a doctor or lawyer or whatever but... I had no idea you were capable of sending me an email and hiding your address. Your skills are AWESOME!!
as my good friend bert says "mahalo!" |
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Jason Frizzelle, Photographer
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Wilmington | NC | USA | Posted: 9:58 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> I had a few minutes while my proofs printed so I took the liberty of revising the email and correcting grammatical and spelling errors.......oh an Chuck the email didn't come from me.....I would have called.
Your latest post shows just how transparently partisan you are. You are an embarrassment to journalism! If you had any personal honor or a shred of professionalism you would not telegraph your political views in every message thread you write.
I hope the cuts to print media continue and land "journalists" like you on the curb one day very soon because that's exactly where you deserve to be, you and pseudo journalists like you should be ashamed of yourselves! By the way, the death spiral at the New York Times continues and it's going to hit The News & Observer very, very soon, I will personally celebrate when they boot your ass out, you hate-filled, partisan robot. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 10:07 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> Bert,
As I understand it today, there will be a media room press can pay to have a guaranteed seat, Internet access, food, etc. same as at Obama.
The difference is that at the Obama event there will be spots you can be at for free (except for cost of travel and hotel that is) and anyone paying for a spot or standing in a free, general press spot will be able to see and hear the speech.
Currently, at the McCain event the candidate's comments to his supporters will be pool coverage only. One TV network to provide feed for all broadcast outlets and stills will be the main wires who are traveling now and select organizations as determined by the campaign. How many that will be remains to be seen.
Those writers paying for space in the workroom will be able to watch the comments on a feed provided by the campaign.
Obama's event is at a large, outdoor location that is subject to the weather of Chicago in early November -- could be sunny and warm, could be near freezing and snowing. McCain's is at a hotel ballroom so space is tighter. |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 11:04 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> Jason, I'm not sure what your post means. Are you simply correcting the email that Chuck received, or agreeing with it?
I'm hoping it's the former. |
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Jason Frizzelle, Photographer
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Wilmington | NC | USA | Posted: 11:53 PM on 10.23.08 |
->> Bob,
I was correcting the email. I found it funny that someone would question a person's integrity as a journalist and make so many mistakes while doing so.
On a serious note: I find it sad that someone would send this email without signing their name. It's a spineless act that speaks to this person's character. |
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Bryon Houlgrave, Photographer
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Waukesha | Wi | USA | Posted: 12:06 AM on 10.24.08 |
| ->> Chuck, I think that email would get an "Inappropriate." |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 12:14 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> George -
Is the feed that those paying will be able to see any different than simply the same feed that the entire country will be able to watch from the comfort of their living rooms?
I wish both of the campaigns would save some of the money they're spending on advertising so they could provide these services gratis - not so much because it would be the noble thing to do, but rather because I'd love to be spared from yet another evening filled with the incessant repetition of these mind numbing ads. |
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David G. McIntyre, Photographer
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Beijing | . | CHINA | Posted: 12:22 AM on 10.24.08 |
| ->> Will they charge C-Span too? THe Gov't will have to pay for both the secret service, and the coverage of the candidate? |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 12:34 AM on 10.24.08 |
| ->> Too bad Joe the plumber didn't hear about this a couple of weeks ago. He could have cleaned up and made enough to buy the biggest plumbing business in the state. |
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Francis Specker, Photographer
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Riverside | CA | USA | Posted: 3:53 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> Is it the campaign charging the media or the contractor who provides service charging? I have a hunch that the campaign is passing down the cost that the vendor is charging to the media. There isn't any law that says that media should get everything they need to cover an event for free.
I have covered many events where the media was charged by the vendors who serviced that particular venue. And because they had an exclusive contract for that venue, they had a tendency to charge what they thought would cover their costs.
I got charged $200 so I could plug in my laptop at the Grammys' red carpet in Los Angeles. I needed power so I paid. Next time I will plug into my battery/power inverter Vagabond.
In the old days the media had everything free and a gift bag thrown in. Today, not so much.
Hotel ballrooms, cable TV, tables, chairs, staging, extra power for lights, catering, telecommunications, even parking cost money. I guess the McCain campaign thought the media, which they have to pay to get ads onto, should share in some of these costs, especially if it benefits them.
I don't really see a big problem with that. |
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Jock Fistick, Photographer
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Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 7:17 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> I have tried to read most of the posts on the Obama thread and on this one too - but I might have missed something...if so I apologize.
Paying for the infrastructure of covering the news is part of the cost of doing business and is nothing new. So, I'm not sure I understand what all the hubbub is about.
Back in the day, before laptops and WiFi, I remember former Dallas Morning News photographer William Snyder telling the story of how his paper shipped two Quadra 650's and monitors to Barcelona and paid an obscene amount of money to have a 128k dedicated ISDN line installed to cover the Olympics. And look at the amount of money news organizations spend today for transmitting stills and video via satellite from placeless like Afghanistan and Iraq.
When I was a newspaper photographer, before digital was king, and we went on the road to cover a major sports or political event, we would book our working space via the AP and pay big bucks for them to arrange to have a phone line installed for us at the venue and to process our film.
And coupled with this - it has long been a tenant of American journalism not to accept "freebies" from any subject, and especially the government. This is to avoid any hint of impropriety, that a favor, or bribe if you will, could influence journalistic coverage. And as others have stated, it costs a ton of money to be a member of the White House traveling press pool. As it would be inappropriate for a news organization to accept a free plane ride from the government.
And we all accept this stuff as part of the cost of doing business - covering the news.
So, why is everyone getting so wound up that we have to pay for a workspace at these political events? They are both elected officials, and are thus part of the government, so this would be the last place we would want to bend the rules. Instead of booking working space via a wire service - now it seems that the media organizations must deal directly with the event organizers - the respective political campaigns.
Now if it is the prices they are charging that is ruffling feathers that is a different but related discussion. Some here seem to think it is price gouging - which it may be. And if so, it does set a dangerous precedent and shame on them! Others have stated that it is a form of crowd control. This could also be the case.
Giving preferential access to large media organizations and controlling media access based on available space is also nothing new. That is why we have "pools". It cost huge amounts of money to cover the Olympics in Beijing - and certain media organizations received preferential treatment which is usually based on their influence in the industry. The wire services collectively have the most reach, so they get more credentials than any of the other organizations and prime shooting locations. Sports Illustrated is one of the world's leading sports magazines and thus probably got some special access etc... When I covered both 1996 political conventions in San Diego and Chicago, all the wire services, large media organizations and influential publications had riser positions, while the rest of us were left to fight for a position on the convention room floor. I don't know if they had to pay for those positions as the risers cost money - but if they did I wouldn't be surprised. And if not, then they got a gift from the event organizers.
So, if I am missing something - please help me see the light :-)
And finally, some here have asked why cover the McCain event if the coverage will be "pool only" ?
My understanding of a pooled event is that you need to be present at the event to have access to the pooled material.
That being said, in this case, we know there will be at least one wire photographer in the pool who will have to share with all the other wire services and thus most publications will get images without having to be there. So yes, unless a publication wants to have something different, possibly away from the main event, then they don't need to be there. But this can be said for just about any major event where a "tight pool" is part of the coverage scenario. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:50 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> Answering a few questions here:
Mark: I don't know if the feed to the reporters will be different than what the viewing public sees at home. They say the campaign will provide high quality feed to the press room and CNN will provide the network feed. Not sure if the campaign will set up their own cameras or tap into that network feed.
A story today notes the comments will be out on the lawn of the hotel so there should be room for a fair amount of stills. It will all depend on how the campaign wants to handle it but the people who handle the advance for the campaigns have loads of experience with past campaigns and the White House so they know which organizations reach more readers and many times can be quite accommodating when space if available. Their job is to get exposure for the candidate. The story says that space is the key reason, there isn't room in the ballroom to build press risers and have as many campaign supporters there to party as they would like. So they are moving the press event outside. They also indicate that McCain could go into the room to speak in-person to supporters during the night if he so desires.
And Jock, why not cover the event? Because why spend the money to go (several thousand in airfare, hotel, food, workroom charges etc) if you are not going to make your own photos and only get access to the same images being transmitted to your paper from the wires? You're getting them anyway.
For an organization like mine, if we go we need to get access. The wire service I work for is jointly owned by two U.S. newspaper companies and between them they own nearly 40 papers and beyond that we have several hundred U.S. newspaper clients and several thousand world-wide clients. I'm sending someone and want them to get in to make their own images. If we are not getting our own images from the photographer who is bringing their own style and unique view to the situation then there is no reason to show up just to get what everyone else gets. I want my own unique images to present to clients on a tight deadline. It does me no good to transmit pool photos out 30 minutes or an hour after the other services do it. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:03 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> "I received an email a couple of hours ago about my starting this thread from someone who hid their address"
I have also had emails in the past from someone without the guts to give a correct name or email address when commenting on a posting. Hey Mr. Anonymous, if you're reading this I have a one-fingered salute waitin' for ya. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 10:15 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> Jim, exercising your First Amendment right to free speech I see. :-)
That is the biggest problem I have with comment sections on articles on the Internet, it is too easy for someone to hide behind a screen name or present a false name when making comments they would not make to someone's face which leads to too many offensive pieces of vitriol.
Be a man (or woman) and own up to what you say and be proud to put your name behind your comments. If you want to exercise your right of free speech then freely include your name too. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 10:17 AM on 10.24.08 |
->> My view is if the event charges the press for services, then it is not a news event, and thus not worth covering.
Chuck
Don't worry about the disconnected e-mail from Joe Six-pack. When you turn to welfare after journalism goes to the wayside like the horse and buggy, Joe Six-Pack e-mailer will pay for your welfare checks and food stamps from the taxes he pays as an unlicensed plumber.
Remember this country is no longer E plusibus unum (that's "Out of Many, One" - Joe Six-Pack). This country is now us against them.
Me, I'm voting for Teddy Roosevelt, the only true Republican since Lincoln!
"Because of things I have done on behalf of justice to the workingman, I have often been called a Socialist. Usually I have not taken the trouble even to notice the epithet.
Moreover, I know that many American Socialists are high-minded and honorable citizens, who in reality are merely radical social reformers. They are opposed to the brutalities and industrial injustices which we see everywhere about us." Teddy Roosevelt
No, President Roosevelt wasn't describing that United States Senator Barack Obama. He was talking about himself, Joe Six-Pack emailer.
*********
Now let's get back to sports photography and how much stadiums charge for covering their made up news events. |
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Mark Davis, Photographer
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Decatur | AL | USA | Posted: 12:11 PM on 10.24.08 |
| ->> Interestingly, over the last 10 years the National Media has become MORE entertainment driven instead of reporting only the facts. More outlets than not are biased and political; they slant facts to accord their own agenda and use, or create, unflattering images to match those positions with their stories. Its not surprising both campaigns are charging for election coverage. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 12:28 PM on 10.24.08 |
->> Jock,
I see a differentiation between paying for additional services which have an associated cost and being required to simply pay for the priviledge of covering the event at all, even when those additional services are not utilized.
To me, it's interesting that while both campaigns extoll the virtue of small business, they have both enacted a policy in this regard which in effect is more likely to disenfranchise the smallest of media outlets (for which such access fees presumably represent a much higher percentage of operating income)in favor of the largest. |
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Jock Fistick, Photographer
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Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 4:18 AM on 10.26.08 |
->> George and Mark:
I think you guys miss-read the section of my post about covering the McCain event...I agree with you.
And Mark - as for the "admission fee". I don't like it either, but I think the number of media who would like to attend, but who don't want or need a workspace is probably minuscule, and they either didn't take this scenario into consideration - or they did - and just don't care. Thus they are using the "fee" as a method of crowd control. And if that is the case - yes it sucks - but again, it is nothing new. There have always been methods employed to control access when space is limited - this one just happens to be monetary.
And you also stated: "while both campaigns extoll the virtue of small business, they have both enacted a policy in this regard which in effect is more likely to disenfranchise the smallest of media outlets..."
I understand what you are getting at and I am sympathetic. But within the context of fiscal policy aimed at small businesses" I don't think even the smallest of U.S. daily newspapers falls into the category of a "small business". |
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