(2003-03-13) Scripted Press Conferences

Matt Taibbi on scripted press conferences for George W Bush. The order in which questions were accepted was scripted, but I don't see explicit statement here that the questions were submitted in advance. Reporters argue that they have no choice. They'll say they can't protest or boycott the staged format, because they risk being stripped of their seat in the press pool. For the same reason, they say they can't write anything too negative. Which reporters? I'm tempted to believe Matt, but his writing doesn't really give you much.

• Michael Crowle did a better job. Mr. Bush failed to call on Washington Post White House correspondent Mike Allen in the front row. Given that it was the second straight news conference in which the hometown paper of record - both Mr.Allen and the other Post White House correspondent, Dana Milbank, have particularly irritated the West Wing - was chilled and chopped, it was hard not to see it as punitive.

And here's a recent Dan Gillmor piece on Bush getting a free ride from the press on various issues like going AWOL from National Guard duty.