jdobbin Posted October 27, 2007 Report Posted October 27, 2007 http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/200.../26/433236.aspx From NBC’s Kelly O’DonnellOn Tuesday, FEMA held what was called a "news briefing" on the California fires, but the questions asked did not come from reporters. They were asked instead by FEMA staffers. VIDEO: FEMA apologizes for having staff workers pretend to be reporters at a news briefing on the Southern California wildfires. NBC's Jeannie Ohm has the story. “It is not a practice that we would employ here at the White House or that we -- we certainly don't condone it,” Press Secretary Dana Perino said. “We didn't know about it beforehand. FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California. It's not something I would have condoned. And they, I'm sure, will not do it again.” One reporter asked Perino who is responsible? “Well, FEMA is responsible,” she said. “And they have accepted that responsibility, and they issued an apology today. They have admitted that they had an error in judgment. I would agree with that. They've issued an apology. And, you know, you'll have to ask them about why they decided to do that." Why fake it? Apparently, the FEMA briefing was called with little lead-time and reporters didn't get there fast enough. Instead of acknowledging that reporters were not there they apparently pretended and even used the typical practice of calling a "last question." The briefer, FEMA's Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson, did not indicate that the questions were coming from staff who were in essence playing reporters. Six questions were asked and the phrasing and subject matter were not typical for a news briefing give and take. I guess the lesson learned from Kartrina was don't let pesky reporters ask questions, have your staff do it! Quote
margrace Posted October 27, 2007 Report Posted October 27, 2007 Apparently from new items I have heard lately New Orleans is still a mess. Would it possibly be because a lot of the people who lost their homes were poor and not of the right colour? Quote
jbg Posted October 28, 2007 Report Posted October 28, 2007 http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/200.../26/433236.aspxI guess the lesson learned from Kartrina was don't let pesky reporters ask questions, have your staff do it! No. It's similar to news columns, that are sometimes in "question and answer" format, or, in Internet-speak, "FAQ's".Apparently from new items I have heard lately New Orleans is still a mess. Would it possibly be because a lot of the people who lost their homes were poor and not of the right colour?How about that there was little or no economic productivity then, and thus little incentive to rebuild anything. Should the US be building a Palestinian-style refugee camp there, or encouraging people to move on to productive areas. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
jdobbin Posted October 28, 2007 Author Report Posted October 28, 2007 No. It's similar to news columns, that are sometimes in "question and answer" format, or, in Internet-speak, "FAQ's". I guess that is why even the White House is distancing itself from this one. Quote
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