Journalists take steps to prevent another Guckert

Last week, when the James Guckert story reached national exposure, Scott McClellan was hit with a series of questions about why Guckert was given the opportunity to “play reporter” in the White House. McClellan, true to form, passed the buck, said it wasn’t his job to manage access to the briefing room, and offered reporters the chance to take this matter up on their own.

“I would welcome the White House Correspondents Association, if they have any concerns or issues that they want to bring to my attention, they know my door is open and I’ll be glad to discuss these issues with them. I have an open dialogue with the Correspondents Association.”

This week, the correspondents are taking McClellan up on the offer.

Leaders of the White House Correspondents’ Association plan to meet with President Bush’s press secretary tomorrow to discuss tightening the White House press-credentialing process. The meeting follows the recent uproar over James Guckert, a former White House reporter for the GOP-linked Talon News, who had used the name Jeff Gannon and drawn criticism for asking partisan questions.

Among the potential changes to the credentialing system: tighter restrictions on who can receive daily press passes, such as those Guckert had obtained; and a more active role by the WHCA in approving requests or credentials, which are now handed out solely by the White House Press Office.

Given what we now know, this discussion seems long overdue.

The question then becomes what kind of agreement the relevant parties will come up with.

Right now, despite protestations to the contrary, McClellan and his office have the responsibility of deciding which reporters get access to the White House. Some are suggesting the White House look to Congress’ model for a more effective system.

[Ron Hutcheson, WHCA president and a Knight Ridder reporter said] that perhaps the White House should require that anyone seeking a day pass first obtain a Capitol Hill press pass, which is distributed by the Standing Committee of Correspondents, a group of congressional reporters. “That is the most recognized credential in Washington, and, up there, journalists have already taken on the job of saying who’s in, who’s out,” Hutcheson said.

Right now, reporters who want a White House “hard pass,” which allows them to enter and leave on an ongoing basis, are required to first obtain a congressional press pass. But those who seek a daily press pass to the White House do not need a congressional pass. Guckert had been denied a congressional pass last year after the standing committee determined that Talon News was not a legitimate news organization.

This needn’t be too complicated. The difference between a real reporter working for a real news outlet that needs access to the White House briefing room and a clown like Guckert should be painfully obvious to anyone who doesn’t work for Bush. We’ll see what they come up with.