Ganongate Scandal Eludes Local Dailies

[G_j]

(I noted that somebody needs to turn Mike on to DU)


http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/column203.html

GANNONGATE SCANDAL ELUDES LOCAL DAILIES

By Mike Hudson

I've learned not to expect too much from my colleagues at the Niagara Gazette and Buffalo News. For the most part, they're a lot younger than I am, and apparently learned the practice of journalism in a very different fashion.

On Feb. 9, when Rep. Louise Slaughter wrote an open letter to President George Bush demanding an investigation into how a person using an alias, with a background in gay pornography and no journalistic credentials whatsoever, managed to obtain White House press passes nearly every day for two years, it made headlines around the country.

<snip>
Still, despite the fact that our congresswoman blew the lid off of what promises to be the first major scandal of Bush's second term, the local dailies have remained silent. Why is it that Slaughter's brave challenge is big news everywhere but in her own district?

I've got a sinking suspicion I know the answer. You see, in the first sentence of the first paragraph of her letter to the president, Slaughter states, "I feel compelled to ask you to address a matter brought to my attention by the Niagara Falls Reporter, a local newspaper in my district."
<snip>

We followed the story online, did a little checking of our own, and wrote the congresswoman voicing our concerns.
..more..
---
An Open Letter to Louise Slaughter
http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/editorial188.html

AN OPEN LETTER TO LOUISE SLAUGHTER
Dear Rep. Slaughter,

As a small newspaper located in your district, we are asking for your help. It has come to our attention that an individual who calls himself "Jeff Gannon" has been credentialed by the White House to attend press briefings and presidential news conferences.

He is affiliated with an organization called Talon News, and is frequently called on by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and President Bush. This individual has no background in journalism whatsoever, and his "syndicated column" appears solely on his personal Web site, www.jeffgannon.com. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "Jeff Gannon" isn't even his real name.

In his biography at the Talon News site, where he holds the title of "Washington Bureau Chief," he claims to be a graduate of the "Pennsylvania State University System" and the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism.

While the 23 schools in the Penn State system award diplomas, the system itself does not, and the Daily News investigation has thus far failed to turn up a "Jeff Gannon" who holds a degree in education from Penn State, as this person claims he does. Furthermore, the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism is a right-wing diploma mill where anyone with $50 and two days to waste can receive a degree.

As for Talon News itself, it seems to consist solely of a Web site that links directly to a Republican site called www.gopusa.com. Both Talon and GOPUSA have the same mailing address, a private residence in Texas. It isn't clear whether anyone at Talon News is paid, as one portion of its site asks, "Want to join the Talon News team? Click here to find out more about being a volunteer reporter for Talon News."

Looking at the staff biography section of the site, none of the 10 individuals listed appear to have any training or previous experience in journalism, although all list credentials as Republican activists.

We respectfully ask your office to look into how a partisan political organization and an individual with no credentials as a reporter -- and apparently operating under an assumed name -- landed a coveted spot in the White House press corps.

Sincerely,

Bruce Battaglia, publisher, Mike Hudson, editor in chief, Rebecca Day, senior editor, David Staba, sports editor, Bill Gallagher, national correspondent, John Hanchette, senior correspondent, Frank Thomas Croisdale, contributing editor, Bill Bradberry, contributing editor, Niagara Falls Reporter.

[Rockerdem]

1. My local daily was MIA too

It is usually liberal and anti-Bush. Puzzling to me.

[WEagle]

2. MIA here too

exept for a couple of LTTEs.

[Blue Gardener]

3. Neither of the local papers here either

I did send in a letter the other day, so hopefully it will be in this week.
What the heck is it going to take for them to print something?

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. Also Western CT MIA n/t

[Padraig18]

5. Our local paper had it front page last Thursday.

:shrug:

[kohodog]

6. Maybe they're worried about being fined $500,000

If they mention the prostitute stuff!