CMC Politics of Journalism: Presidency and Executive Branch I

For Wednesday, read the Dreyer and Scaramucci documents (links on the syllabus).

Shutdown politics: on-message, off-message: gaffe

Dunaway: "Television tipped the political scales of power among the three branches of government in favor of the presidency." Meaning? Still true?

Staff

Press Secretary
Office of Communications (do not confuse with WH Communications Agency)
Office of Public Engagement (3-cushion billiards)

Direct transmission

Full coverage of speeches and press conferences
WH website

Mediated transmission

WH press briefings
Leaks
Backgrounders
Working the refs (more on Wednesday)

Four years ago today: Accidental release of talking points

Full text

Hot Mics and Overheard Remarks

Review from 9/13:

"On the Record," "Off the Record," "Background"
Do not assume that the other person uses these terms the same way.
In an internship or entry-level job, NEVER talk to the media without specific authorization from your boss.

Some hack/flack terminology:

Close hold: Don't tell anyone
Gaggle: Informal, off-camera briefing with Press Corps by the White House Press Secretary
Nothingburger : A derisive term to describe a story or event that doesn't have a lot of importance/significance — but is hyped as though it does
Pool hold: The place where the reporters and photographers stay while the president's at an event.
Pooled Press: A media arrangement where the major TV networks "pool" their resources and one network covers an event for the others. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC are in the network pool rotation.
Pool spray : Media are allowed into an event at the White House for a quick minute or so and photographers are "spraying the room" — shooting from left to right, quickly, to capture the scene.
Prebuttal: A preemptive rebuttal
Pushback: Opposition or resistance to a plan and in this case — a reporter.
VIP pool: When the five networks "pool" their coverage of a very important person's travel.
Walk it back: To try to refine, clarify or minimize a statement to undo the damage

More terms specific to the WH:

Lower Press: The deputies, assistants and press wranglers behind the door to the left of the briefing room lectern.
Upper Press: Where the press secretary’s office is located.
Palm Room: The breezeway between the Rose Garden and the back of the press workspace. The “Palm Room doors” are a gathering spot for the pool, and for South Lawn events.
Pebble Beach: The TV standup locations on the North Lawn.
“Stakeout”: Driveway spot at the West Wing portico where notables speak to press at the “sticks” (microphones).
Lid: Generically, when the pool is dismissed for the day with an assurance the President isn’t going anywhere or doing anything in public.
Full lid: The President isn’t going anywhere for the rest of the day or appearing in public, and there will be no further announcements, even by email. The pool is dismissed.
Travel/photo lid: The President isn’t going anywhere for the rest of the day. There won’t even be any photo ops. But there may be announcements via email. The pool is dismissed.
Lunch/dinner lid: An assurance that the pool is free to leave the White House grounds temporarily and won’t miss anything.
Call time: When poolers are obliged to be on site for pool duty.
Open press: Events that anyone could attend and cover. Don’t expect pool reports, other than start/stop times and maybe some color or tidbits that only the pool likely saw and heard. One exception: Marine One departures and arrivals are open press, but are pooled because it’s so hard to hear.
Bad weather call: When it’s raining too hard to safely take Marine One, the President will motorcade to or from Joint Base Andrews etc. Sometimes a bad weather call is made on short notice, so the in-town pool needs to be alert.
“The Beast”: This refers only to the black Cadillac presidential limousine used for official events. It got the nickname for its considerable weight due to security enhancements. The president also travels in SUVs, often on weekends and personal trips. The SUVs should not be be confused with The Beast.