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Anonymous Briefings Rile White House Press Corps

Members considering staging protest

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 10, 2009 7:02 AM CDT

(Newser) – The White House press corps is fed up with background briefings given by “senior administration officials” whose names can’t be revealed, and journalists are considering a protest, Politico reports. An AP reporter has urged the press to team up against such briefings. But frustrated reporters are still attending them; they can’t afford to be left behind. A CBS reporter called the briefings “arbitrary” and “silly.”

“When people read this anonymous source stuff, they discount it,” said a Clinton administration press secretary. “Anonymous sources to them just become part of the political game in Washington.”

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs conducts a briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs conducts a briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The White House press corps listing to a briefing in the White House last week.
The White House press corps listing to a briefing in the White House last week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton makes an unannounced appearance to brief reporters at the White House.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton makes an unannounced appearance to brief reporters at the White House.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
ABO_2012
May 10, 2009 12:39 PM CDT
Transparency?
Derni
May 10, 2009 9:12 AM CDT
Sounds like what I get in the newspaper everyday...payback sucks!
Rob
May 10, 2009 4:36 AM CDT
Ever read "Animal Farm"?

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