Meet The "Press"
Well, maybe not quite an invasion. But we've got two interesting examples of non-journalists impersonating members of the fourth estate today – and that's just one short of a trend!
The first comes, like so many fascinating things (and Alex Trebek), from Canada. A Vancouver policeman passed himself off as a reporter from the newspaper 24 Hours in order to lure anti-poverty activist David Cunningham to a shopping center. When Cunningham arrived expecting an interview, he was arrested.
Unsuprisingly, 24 Hours editor Dean Broughton is not a fan of the tactic, arguing, according to CBC, that the "media should never be used in ploys by police because it could put reporters in danger and undermines trust in the media."
Yeah, the blurring of lines between journalism and police work sure can be problematic, don't you think?
Over at the Weekly Standard, meanwhile, Matt Labash brings us the story of John Cox, a "good Reaganite conservative" and Chicago millionaire who is running for president. Only no one in the press is paying attention! So a little while back, Cox called the Weekly Standard offices and eventually talked to Labash, who was convinced that Cox is a "sane fringe candidate." Labash wanted to write about him, even if no one else would.
Here's where things got weird: Cox couldn't get included in the Republican debate at the Reagan library, but he flew out anyway with a small group that included Labash. He wasn't getting anywhere in his attempts to at least get into the spin room, but Labash had a plan:
Before joining up with Cox, I'd told him that I was credentialed for the debate, so he should get someone from his campaign to apply to be my photographer, which [Dan] Herren had done. The next day--debate day--we arrive early at the press credentialing table. I pick up my lammie, and Dan picks up his, giving it to Cox. Cox and I board the media shuttle bus at the bottom of a hill that runs us up to the Reagan Library. Cox, it appears, will have his day in the spin room.Cox felt demeaned by the whole thing, but he went along with it. And then, alas, it didn't even work: He got kicked out after admitting to a security guard who he really was. Later, Cox offered his take on the whole experience:
"Am I an anarchist? What have I done to merit the treatment I'm getting here? This country needs leadership, leadership from people who've actually accomplished something in their lives. What you saw demonstrated today is the real problem. Who, with any level of achievement, would want to get involved in this nonsense? If you've achieved something, created value and wealth in a business world where intelligence and skill and inventiveness are rewarded, is it going to be attractive to go into politics where you've got to steal a press pass to get heard?Naturally, Cox ended up doing what all Americans now do when they want to get heard but can't: He turned to YouTube. You can check him out here.