Comments on: Hired.

By: Sean Tubbs

Sean Tubbs — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 17:38:00 +0000

Press credentials are needed to get into the press room, where there’s a audio-out from the two chambers. Space in the galleries is extremely limited, and is on a first-come first-serve basis. If I recall correctly, there’s no press feed in the gallery, either. They don’t make it easy.

By: Brian Patton » G.A. Blogger

Brian Patton » G.A. Blogger — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 04:59:01 +0000

[...] Waldo has been “hired” to blog the happenings of the General Assembly once per week. He is apparently going to skip work one day per week, travel to Richmond, and blog about the various things going on in the General Assembly. [...]

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:53:44 +0000

Let’s wait and see what I do. :) We’ll figure out if it’s worthwhile then.

By: JR

JR — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 22:18:40 +0000

Well…”observation over conclusion”…I’ll take what I can get!

By: ATA

ATA — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 21:51:16 +0000

What’s the advantage of the press credentials? It used to be that anyone who wanted to could wander in, take a seat or even take the microphone. Is this no longer the case?

By: J.C. Wilmore

J.C. Wilmore — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 21:10:58 +0000

Maybe we need to create a media outlet. Maybe this is something Leftyblogs should offer.

By: Sean Tubbs

Sean Tubbs — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:16:36 +0000

There is an audio feed in the press room, but space there is limited and probably needs to be reserved in advance. I can let you borrow my Marantz PMD-660 for a day as long as I can get it back the same evening or next morning if you want to go in armed with something that looks professional. I still have my press credentials, which I got from the State Police. You need to have a media outlet vouch for you.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 15:18:51 +0000

My intent is to write the way I always write. I leave the reporting to the reporters. :) But I do intend to emphasize observation over conclusion — and we’ll see if that’ll work, since I’ve never done it — in hopes that others can draw some conclusions from my observations.

We’ll see how the first time goes, and then we’ll know what I’m doing. I use the word “we” advisedly, because I don’t have any idea. :)

By: JR

JR — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:54:22 +0000

Waldo,
Good luck. Try not to be too partisan, unless that is your intent.

I’ve had you linked from our website as a left of center blog, but for these posts from the GA, I’ll make sure you’re prominently listed.

I’m sure other blogs will do the same — even us conservative ones — if you are going in with the mindset as reporter over partisan. Shoot, we might even contribute some bucks too!
JR

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:41:38 +0000

I think you should get your press credentials when you go … assuming they actually do something …

That is an excellent idea. I will pursue that, although I think I’ll wait until after I’ve gone once or twice.

You’ve inspired me Waldo. I will join you at the Capitol this Monday.

Great! I don’t think I’ll be able to go on Monday but, frankly, that may be all the better — we want as much coverage as possible, after all, as opposed to two people covering the same things. :) That’s awesome that you’ll be headed down, though. I hope we see more people doing this.

Are there any regulatory issues that would prevent you from bringing a recorder and producing a podcast?

You raise a larger question, Duane, of what is and is not permissible along these lines. For a GA newbie like me, I have no idea if the WiFi is open to the public, if I’m allowed to take non-flash photos, or if I’m allowed to make audio recordings. Or, if I can do any of these things, if that requires press credentials. If I could make an audio recording of the proceedings while I’m there, you’re right, that’d be a fine addition. Perhaps useless to most, but it could be invaluable to a few.

Here’s hoping somebody knows how all this works. :) Thank you, everybody, for your suggestions and assistance. I feel real good about what blogs may be able to contribute to this year’s GA session.

By: Duane Gran

Duane Gran — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:02:54 +0000

This is a fantastic idea and I’m humbled by your civic sensibilities. It raises; however, the question about why these public meetings aren’t already recorded in some manner. Do they only record transcripts for public addresses and official statements? I would have expected a stenographer to present at official meetings, but possibly this is cost prohibitive.

Are there any regulatory issues that would prevent you from bringing a recorder and producing a podcast? Astute readers of your summary may be interested to go to the source, provided that a full transcript isn’t being produced already.

By: J.C. Wilmore

J.C. Wilmore — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:17:27 +0000

You’ve inspired me Waldo. I will join you at the Capitol this Monday. I will be out of town the 17th to the 24th, but I’ll return after I . . return.

I wonder who we will have to see about getting press credentials . . . anyone know?

It strikes me that it might be a good thing if we followed someone in particular, someone like Bob Marshall. Perhaps he can be encouraged to self-destruct the way McCArthy did.

By: John B.

John B. — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:38:00 +0000

I think you should get your press credentials when you go … assuming they actually do something … see if they’ll let you have them.