President Obama held a news conference the other day. At the beginning he read off a teleprompter. So much for the great communicator! That aside, for correspondents to gain access to the news conference, what that all involves and what then happens, is explained in this piece - being the transcript of the radio broadcast on Correspondent's Report on ABC Radio National - by Michael Rowland:
"A presidential press conference is as stage-managed and tightly choreographed as a Broadway show.
I managed to get hold of a rare ticket for Barack Obama's big performance last the week. Along with nearly 200 other reporters it gave me a seat in the ornate White House East Room, a few rows back from the presidential podium.
Actually getting there marked the end of a marathon journey.
Reporters lucky enough to get a seat were told to arrive four hours before the media conference began so they could clear White House security and pick up their credentials.
If nothing else it allowed time to conjure up some hard-hitting questions, and just to kill any suspense, no, I didn't get the call.
Ninety minutes before show time the media heard was ushered through the front door of the White House and into the already brightly lit East Room. And as we waited for Mr Obama there were no shortage of warm-up acts.
About 20 minutes before air-time a bow-tied waiter shuffled in with a tall glass of water for the President."
Read, in full, here , a rather fascinating "peep" of what goes on at president's press conference.
"A presidential press conference is as stage-managed and tightly choreographed as a Broadway show.
I managed to get hold of a rare ticket for Barack Obama's big performance last the week. Along with nearly 200 other reporters it gave me a seat in the ornate White House East Room, a few rows back from the presidential podium.
Actually getting there marked the end of a marathon journey.
Reporters lucky enough to get a seat were told to arrive four hours before the media conference began so they could clear White House security and pick up their credentials.
If nothing else it allowed time to conjure up some hard-hitting questions, and just to kill any suspense, no, I didn't get the call.
Ninety minutes before show time the media heard was ushered through the front door of the White House and into the already brightly lit East Room. And as we waited for Mr Obama there were no shortage of warm-up acts.
About 20 minutes before air-time a bow-tied waiter shuffled in with a tall glass of water for the President."
Read, in full, here , a rather fascinating "peep" of what goes on at president's press conference.
Comments