In my years as a news director, I have approved many expenses for election night coverage. It is not unheard of for stations to pay for satellite truck parking spaces. It is certainly routine for stations and networks to pay for communication and electrical lines to their broadcast locations. Campaigns should not pay for those things.
But the Obama campaign is going places I have not seen campaigns go
in charging journalists for access on Election Night.
The Obama campaign says media credential packages will cost $410 to $1,870, depending on riser position and whether electrical and phone lines are needed. You will also pay more depending on whether you want an indoor or outdoor seat at Grant Park in Chicago.
The memo from the Obama campaign says there will be free admission to a "general media" area. But, the memo says, "Please note that the general media area is outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views." It is also standing-room-only.
It was
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet who blew the whistle on this plan. She wrote:
If a reporter wants access to the file center -- which will be the best place to find Obama officials and spokesmen -- be prepared to write a check for $935. The cheapest place a reporter could stand on a riser with a view is $880.
That $935 covers one reporter in a heated file tent, power, cable TV, Internet and food. I am told by an Obama spokesman who did not want his name used that this just covers costs and they are not turning a profit on this. The planners could have built in more a la carte options for Grant Park coverage.
This is an outrageous pay-to-play plan that caters to national elite outlets with deep pockets.
I am not asking for a free ride -- news outlets pay for plane seats, other transportation organized by the campaign, hotel rooms, plus associated costs for filing centers.
But this Election Night list is pricey and does not take into account some reporters won't need power, cable, Internet or food, but will crave the access more than the food.
Here are some of the options and costs for media credential packages, according to the Obama campaign:
- Main Riser Position -- $935 (includes four main riser credentials, 5' x 8' slot on covered main riser and one 20-amp circuit)
- Main Riser Position with Telecommunications -- $1,870 (includes main riser position services, plus two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired, high-speed Internet connection)
- Cut Riser Position -- $880 (includes four cut riser credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Cut Riser, one 20 amp circuit)
- Cut Riser Position with Telecommunications -- $1,815 (includes cut riser position services, plus two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired, high-speed Internet connection)
- Press File Seat -- $935 (includes 1 press file credential, seat in heated press file tent, power, cable television, high-speed wired Internet service, catering)
- Satellite Truck Position -- $900 (includes 35' x 20' parking position and 100-amp electrical service)
- Radio Position -- $715 (includes table space and chair behind the riser, power and an ISDN BRI line for radio; comes with two credentials)
I checked with a few friends who know about these things.
Jackie Pillers, the special projects producer for WTVF-TV in Nashville, has coordinated television coverage on election nights at Clinton headquarters and Gore headquarters, presidential debates and many inaugurations.
"I have never heard of this," she said. "We are used to paying -- it is expected to pay for communications and electrical. To have to pay for credentials to cover the event is unbelievable to me. I know the campaign says there are open media locations where it is free, but I am wondering if we are going to be able to service our viewers from there."
Pillers says satellite truck parking sometimes costs stations if a city permit is involved. She said most trucks do not need the plug-in electricity the Obama campaign is offering because the trucks run off generators.
Well, the Obama campaign HAS promised change in how things...
