Harper's PMO Prevents Media Access To Event Then Sends Email To Party Membership Bemoaning 'Media Boycott'
Unbelievable! Here's how Stephen Harper handled communications of yesterday's Speech From The Throne:
-Banned all media & network reporters from his pre-Speech address to MP's
-PMO allowed only TV cameras to the conference
-Networks and News agencies balked - demanded PMO reconsider precedent setting dictate
-PMO say it would allow 1 reporter in and would report for ALL networks and agencies
-Parliamentary Press Gallery says NO! ... boycott the event ...
-CPC Director of Political Operations sends email/letter to Conservative Party membership, insisting that the media unfairly boycotted Harper's speech - won't give them fair news coverage!
(Here's from Nicole Green - CTV News)
"Conservative Party Director of Political Operations Fred Delorey sent a letter to party members Wednesday afternoon, after almost all of the Ottawa press gallery decided not to send a pool reporter or cameras into the Tory caucus meeting earlier in the day.
Normally, the press gallery reporters are allowed to cover the prime minister’s address to caucus on the morning of the throne speech, but the Prime Minister's Office said no reporters, only cameras. After a lot of back and forth between bureau chiefs and the Prime Minister's Office, the PMO agreed to allow one pool reporter to enter the caucus meeting. This pool reporter would be responsible for covering the speech for the entire press gallery. The gallery banded together, saying it was either going to be all of them in the room or none, so none it was. (I should note that Sun Media did enter the room to cover, the only news organization to do so.)
After the press gallery decision earlier Wednesday, Delorey sent a letter to party members about the incident:
Friend,
You won’t believe what the Press Gallery just did in Ottawa.
Some media decided to boycott an important speech by our Prime Minister – one where he laid out his vision for our country, before today’s Speech from the Throne.
Rather than send cameras to cover the Prime Minister’s speech, they attended the NDP's meeting, and were welcomed with cheers and applause. We knew they wouldn't give us fair coverage – but this is a new low for the Ottawa media elite.
Since you won’t see this speech on the evening news, we've updated our website with video from our Prime Minister’s speech:
http://www.stephenharper.ca/SFT/
Sincerely,
Fred DeLorey
Director, Political Operations
Conservative Party of Canada"
CTV News Online
... and the False Conservative spin got some print media traction far from Ottawa ..
-The HILL TIMES has more ....
