If this drudge report is correct, then - per the White House - all coverage of the Millennium On The Mall in Washington event will come through CBS.

How can that be workable? Other press will be stopped from filming in Washington? Isn't this, er, news coverage? How far does the CBS exclusive zone extend? If you're assuming it's only to the entertainment events ("We have retained the rights to the Quincy Jones concert." ), you'd be wrong. ""The President and First Lady's remarks will be made available live through CBS to any media outlet," said the CBS source.".

This is one to keep a careful eye on. Firstly, it's highly distasteful that access to a Presidential address should be controlled by one media company. Who pays his salary, and who is his address intended for? Not CBS. Is this going to be sold as "The President of the United States, brought to you courtesy of CBS"? Where next, "The Coca Cola(tm) Budget"?

Secondly, how on earth do they intend to enforce this? Siezing of cameras?

Thirdly, and the martial law fans will love this - if all the networks buy the CBS coverage, then will there be any other cameras out there? Is the intention to have all eyes on Washington, with all media coverage controlled by a couple of dials and switches at CBS? If so... who's in charge of those dials? And what will the cameras be showing? Remember, all USA eyes WILL be on the East Coast.

Can you picture a faceless guy in a grey suit with a droning but intense monotone saying "Mr President, we cannot allow the facts to interfere with public perception. We have a duty - a duty, Mr President - to prevent panic."

Just a thought.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 22, 1999

Answers

interesting points. Makes one think.....

-- More Dinty Moore (dac@ccrtc.com), December 22, 1999.

Perception Management via Viacom

-- (@ .), December 22, 1999.

CBS is not claiming an exclusive on news coverage of the event. In fact, it cannot. It is an entertainment division that is claiming an exclusive on the Quincy Jones Concert. Entertainment and news are two different production units with different producers and production staff. This "exclusive" could be a source of conflict if public money is being used to produce it. The fact that the President is appearing is not the issue. The President appears at numerous entertainment events in which an individual network has an exclusive. Now, if public money is being used, the event could be considered the same in nature as Inauguration Day. If CBS is "producing", which basically means paying the cost of, that could be a gray area. There will be many news organizations covering the event. This coverage is not in dispute. It is the "broadcast rights" that are in dispute. There will not be a restriction on cameras, only "broadcast feeds" to the networks that will be limited if this issue is decided in favor of CBS. Ever major news organization has correspondents that are assigned to Koskinen's command post, as well as, every major focal point globally. One thing is for sure- there will be no shortage of news coverage of any Y2K related event or problem.

-- for real (for@real.com), December 22, 1999.