Canadian journalists boycott PM

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Author Message   ina Citizen Username: Ina Post Number: 361 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:26 pm:        Will their American peers follow suit? I can dream... Journalists stage boycott of PM's press conference Prime Minister not taking questions Reporters refuse to submit names to list May 24, 2006. 01:00 AM ALEXANDER PANETTA CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA—About two dozen journalists walked out on Stephen Harper yesterday after he refused to take their questions, the latest chapter in an unseemly spat between the Prime Minister and members of the national media. Parliament Hill veterans described the scene of reporters boycotting a prime ministerial news conference 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 camera operators outside the House of Commons. The impromptu boycott was the latest move by journalists in their ongoing tug-of-war with Harper over who controls news conferences. The Prime Minister's Office insists on choosing who gets to ask questions based on a list it compiles. Officials say they're merely trying to install some order to the often chaotic ritual of parliamentary news scrums. "It is unfortunate that a select group within the press gallery displays such hostility and exhibits disrespect toward the Prime Minister," said a Harper spokesman. But the parliamentary press gallery is concerned that Harper wants to freeze out any journalists or news organizations that he dislikes and so has refused to submit names to the list. "We can't accept that the Prime Minister's Office would decide who gets to ask questions," said Yves Malo, a TVA reporter and president of the press gallery. "Does that mean that when there's a crisis they'll only call upon journalists they expect softball questions from?" After journalists refused to be placed on the list again yesterday, Harper spokesman Dimitris Soudas announced that Harper would be on his way shortly — and he would not be taking questions. The press gallery president then turned to his colleagues and suggested they leave. Most agreed, reasoning there was no point sticking around if the event could be covered by watching a television set from any newsroom in the country. The Star was one of the media outlets that chose to remain.