salon.com: NY press corps yuks it up with Bloomberg

[Douglas Carpenter]

Friday, Dec 9, 2011 8:00 AM 01:39:42 UTC+1000

NY press corps yuks it up with Bloomberg

After the arrest of 26 journalists at Zuccotti Park, the mayor jokes about it with reporters

By Michael Tracey


Michael Bloomberg yucks it up (Credit: Reuters/Mike Segar)

On Tuesday, one lucky group of New York City journalists were treated to an evening of drinks, pizza squares, and funny gift exchanges at Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s annual Holiday Party for local press.

In attendance this year were reporters from the New York Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, CBS, Fox, and other outlets. The journalists, no doubt straining to retain their “objectivity” throughout, were able to schmooze with dignitaries such as Bloomberg’s longtime partner Diana Taylor (who sits on the Board of Directors for Brookfield Properties, the retail firm that partially owns Zuccotti Park) and Paul Browne, spokesperson for the New York City Police Department.

Bloomberg bestowed “gag gifts” upon a number of journalists, quipping that they “are reserved only for ‘the one percent,’” according to Fernanda Santos, an education reporter for the New York Times. Santos herself received a fake Department of Education “VIP Security Pass.”

Bloomberg draped himself in the tarp and posed briefly with it, attendees said. Todd Maisel of the New York Daily news tweeted a photo of Bloomberg smiling from ear-to-ear.

read full article:

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/ny_press_corps_yucks_it_up_with_bloomberg/singleton/

[Eric J in MN]

1. Allison Kilkenny said on her podcast yesterday

...that the reporters have to yuck it up with Mayor Bloomberg.

Otherwise, when they phone for a quote for an article, they won't get one.

http://wearecitizenradio.com

[coalition_unwilling]

2. Not journalists or reporters but syccophants, suckling at the teat

of power.