Journalists boycott Harper news conference as media battle heats up

[tuvor]

OTTAWA (CP) - About two dozen journalists walked out on Stephen Harper on Tuesday after he refused to take their questions, the latest chapter in an increasingly unseemly spat between the prime minister and members of the national media.

The scene of reporters boycotting a prime ministerial news conference was described by Parliament Hill veterans as a first. It resulted in Harper being forced to make his announcement on aid to Darfur to a small handful of reporters, photographers and cameramen outside the House of Commons.

The impromptu boycott was the latest move by journalists in their ongoing tug-of-war with the prime minister over who controls news conferences.

The Prime Minister's Office insists on choosing who gets to ask questions based on a list it compiles.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=8c303905-ee2a-4c48-9ee8-19ed24f848b7&k=84417

[Spazito]

1. Well, it looks like the battle has gotten even more fired up...

Good, I hope they hold firm, knuckling under Harper's autocratic rules means less freedom of the press which is essential for us, as voters, to be well-informed.

[Bassic]

5. I think that's the whole point.

Haper would very much enjoy it if he could keep us as uninformed as the White House and the GOP are keeping the American general public. I do hop that the journalists hold firm. If they do, this is a battle that Stevie will have a hard time winning.

[ClusterFreak]

2. I love this shit. I can't get enough of it.

As disturbing as it is....Harper's boundless arrogance is also like watching a slow-motion train wreck....not that I love watching train wrecks....but as a metaphor, I love this shit.

Love.

It.

:evilgrin:


Schadenfreude....catch the wave!!B-)

[CHIMO]

3. Well The Nessage

Stil gets out.

Ottawa pledges $40-million in Darfur aid

Ottawa promised another $40-million in aid for the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, promised a two-pronged approach to helping ensure a tentative peace holds.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in the foyer of the House of Commons on Tuesday, describing the commitment as a “two-pronged approach” made up of humanitarian aid and “peace-support assistance.”

Mr. Harper did not take questions from reporters following Tuesday's announcement.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060523.wharp0523/BNStory/National/home

Bush challenges Canada to help stem Darfur crisis
U.S. president orders emergency humanitarian aid to war-torn region

UNITED NATIONS -- U.S. President George W. Bush ordered emergency food deliveries to help replenish dwindling United Nations supplies in Sudan's Darfur region and pressed the UN Security Council to speed up deployment of UN peacekeepers in the region.

Announcing the initiatives, Bush challenged Canada and other Western countries to see what more they can do to head off the growing humanitarian crisis and to ensure the success of a peace deal signed Friday between the Sudanese government and the main rebel group in Darfur.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=eb3a99ad-3adb-47ad-b831-3a125c95f7c8&k=45595

So now May I? May I please?

[Spazito]

4. Only the written message, face time in front of the camera is very

important for a politician, the 20 sec clip on the television news has much more impact than the written word for those who don't follow politics closely, imo.