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(Chicago Sun-Times)   Reporters: Want a nice warm tent, some food and a place to plug in your laptop while covering Obama on election night? No problem -- that'll be $935, please. If you don't have $935, you can just stand in line outside. For $880   (blogs.suntimes.com) divider line
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    More: Asinine  
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2063 clicks; posted to Politics » on 21 Oct 2008 at 6:20 PM (14 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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bronyaur1
2008-10-21 3:44:27 PM  
I guess those GOP-types that don't like this in fact are not as free market as they claim to be.
 
onecanshort
2008-10-21 3:55:37 PM  
Seems a bit pricey, but it cannot possibly be cheap to wire up all that shiat outside:

* Main Riser Position - $935 (Includes 4 Main Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Main Riser and one 20 amp circuit)
* Main Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1870 (Includes Main Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Cut Riser Position - $880 (Includes 4 Cut Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Cut Riser, one 20 amp circuit)
* Cut Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1815 (Includes Cut Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Press File Seat - $935 (includes 1 Press File Credential, seat in heated Press File Tent, Power, Cable Television, High Speed Wired Internet Service, Catering)
* Satellite Truck Position - $900 (includes 35'x20' parking position and 100 amp electrical service)
* Radio Position - $715 (includes table space and chair behind the riser, power and an ISDN BRI line for radio -- comes with two credentials)

Unless in Chicago 20 amp circuits, satellite connections, isdn lines and high speed internet lines all grow on trees.
 
onecanshort
2008-10-21 4:02:12 PM  
Also, it's not like you can call up a telco and say, "Yeah I need 500 DSL, 200 ISDN lines for 1 night please" nor can you have a power company come in an extend a shiatload of circuits for 1 night. They'll charge you install fees, and I'm sure 1 month minimum service.
 
Lundah
2008-10-21 4:10:14 PM  
onecanshort: Also, it's not like you can call up a telco and say, "Yeah I need 500 DSL, 200 ISDN lines for 1 night please" nor can you have a power company come in an extend a shiatload of circuits for 1 night. They'll charge you install fees, and I'm sure 1 month minimum service.

No shiat. And it's not like you can't get a 3G signal in Grant Park. If I end up going, I'll be liveblogging it via my iPhone.
 
onecanshort
2008-10-21 4:12:51 PM  

Lundah: onecanshort: Also, it's not like you can call up a telco and say, "Yeah I need 500 DSL, 200 ISDN lines for 1 night please" nor can you have a power company come in an extend a shiatload of circuits for 1 night. They'll charge you install fees, and I'm sure 1 month minimum service.

No shiat. And it's not like you can't get a 3G signal in Grant Park. If I end up going, I'll be liveblogging it via my iPhone.


I highly doubt any media outlets will rely soley on available wireless networks, the sheer volume in the area will be sure to cripple the network.
 
mofroe
2008-10-21 4:18:00 PM  
B...b...but elitism
 
patrick767
2008-10-21 4:35:21 PM  
The comments on that page are incredibly jam packed with stupid. Once again a news site's commenters manage to make Fark political threads look like the height of intellectual public discourse.
 
Lundah
2008-10-21 4:57:07 PM  
onecanshort: I highly doubt any media outlets will rely soley on available wireless networks,

I wasn't talking about ALL media outlets. The big boys will pony up, the indie media will get by on whatever they can, as they always do. Remember the WTO in Seattle?
 
Fellows
2008-10-21 5:03:59 PM  
Eating food at a rally or other political event was grounds for being fired at one of the newspapers I worked at.

And they were serious about enforcing it.
 
onecanshort
2008-10-21 5:10:54 PM  

Lundah: onecanshort: I highly doubt any media outlets will rely soley on available wireless networks,

I wasn't talking about ALL media outlets. The big boys will pony up, the indie media will get by on whatever they can, as they always do. Remember the WTO in Seattle?


Heh gotcha, although it would make for a good commerical for Spring...

'I'm here at an Obama rally with CNN....and I found...the Internet!"
 
daychilde
2008-10-21 5:17:18 PM  

Fellows: Eating food at a rally or other political event was grounds for being fired at one of the newspapers I worked at.

And they were serious about enforcing it.


Was it food provided for free by the campaign, or was it even food paid for by either you or your newspaper?

The food here would be paid for by the newspaper (or whatever media outlet), so surely that's not the same thing...

Either way, such a situation would be fine if the reporters didn't buy the food option and brought their own. *shrug*
 
daychilde
2008-10-21 5:19:43 PM  

onecanshort: a good commerical for Spring...


As opposed to Nexted, AT&3 (pronounced "eighty and three"), T-Mobil, and the like?

/I assume you meant Sprint, or else none of my lame humour makes any sense
 
Occam's Chainsaw
2008-10-21 5:22:25 PM  

onecanshort: Lundah: onecanshort: I highly doubt any media outlets will rely soley on available wireless networks,

I wasn't talking about ALL media outlets. The big boys will pony up, the indie media will get by on whatever they can, as they always do. Remember the WTO in Seattle?

Heh gotcha, although it would make for a good commerical for Spring...

'I'm here at an Obama rally with CNN....and I found...the Internet!"


Only if there are rainbows, unicorns, and endless hordes of puppies issuing forth from the building behind them... maybe throw in a chorus of angels for giggles.
 
onecanshort
2008-10-21 5:22:39 PM  

daychilde: onecanshort: a good commerical for Spring...

As opposed to Nexted, AT&3 (pronounced "eighty and three"), T-Mobil, and the like?

/I assume you meant Sprint, or else none of my lame humour makes any sense


Do'h, yeah that's the ticket.
 
dahmers love zombie
2008-10-21 5:46:31 PM  
Well, obviously the Republicans want the rich to provide the resources so that the less wealthy have access. In fact, isn't the GOP platform based on the concept of providing to each according to their needs?

No?

Then STFU, McCain whiners.
 
Fellows
2008-10-21 5:47:32 PM  

daychilde: Was it food provided for free by the campaign, or was it even food paid for by either you or your newspaper?

The food here would be paid for by the newspaper (or whatever media outlet), so surely that's not the same thing...

Either way, such a situation would be fine if the reporters didn't buy the food option and brought their own. *shrug*


Yea, they'd have to pay for it. Considering the hoops to go through to get a receipt and prove you paid for it, most didn't even bother.

They relaxed on the rule after a while but it was still a bit of a taboo thing to do.
 
AdolfOliverPanties
2008-10-21 6:25:05 PM  
blogs.suntimes.com

Yikes! They should charge the author double.
 
AnotherSithForMcCain
2008-10-21 6:25:31 PM  
Considering Palin charges 15 million for public records this sounds like a bargain.
 
Jster422
2008-10-21 6:27:58 PM  
I'm glad that the writer has explained in detail what alternative plans would have been preferable.

Moreover, how much work should the campaign really Have to do to make it easy for the media to cover the event - I mean, what are they going to do - ignore the election?

I'll be standing around like an idiot in Grant Park, they can do the same.
 
bidness
2008-10-21 6:31:19 PM  
The campaign is charging reporters for services rendered, which the campaign is neither obligated to provide nor the reporters obligated to purchase?

THOSE MONSTERS!
 
Loucifer
2008-10-21 6:35:25 PM  
* Main Riser Position - $935
* Main Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1870
* Cut Riser Position - $880
* Cut Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1815
* Press File Seat - $935
* Satellite Truck Position - $900
* Radio Position - $715

An Obama Win - Priceless.
 
chipspastic
2008-10-21 6:35:40 PM  
Wow - what a douche! Here's a deal for you: nobody pays for anything and Obama doesn't provide anything. That better, cry baby?
 
TwistedFark
2008-10-21 6:37:00 PM  

bidness: The campaign is charging reporters for services rendered, which the campaign is neither obligated to provide nor the reporters obligated to purchase?

THOSE MONSTERS!


Curse you and your wiley free-market ways, socialist Obama!

/Republicans - they like to have it both ways.
//And in both ends.
///Just ask Larry Craig.
 
kmt11
2008-10-21 6:37:24 PM  
As much as I dislike barry and all that he stands for, I don't see any problem with this. Why not defray some of the costs to the media?
 
AspectRatio
2008-10-21 6:38:13 PM  
Some of the comments on this article are just so precious:

----
Get ready for a whole lot of expenses coming out of your pocket. The change Obama is talking about is what is going to be left in your pockets. The Hope is that he does not trash you if you should ask him a question that truly exposes what he is and that is a SOCIALIST!
----
What happened to Freedom of the Press Sen. Obama? Now that they have endorsed you, you are going to extort money from them? Typical, he is already taxing freedom of speach? What other freedoms of ours will he tax.
----
This strategy makes sense. Let the redistribution begin with the media fools. Then, we'll go on to take money from the "wealthy". Where will the money go??? Well, of course right into the pockets of Obama and his Robots. Some people know his practices as bribing (the media), and taking (communists) from the "wealthy", who maybe earn just $42,000. Oh well, this is the "change" we've been waiting for?
----

As if McCain's election night press areas will be free for the taking.
 
Clemond N. Flinch
2008-10-21 6:38:29 PM  
I can't wait to be cleansed of my white guilt. It will be so historical.
 
bubbaprog
2008-10-21 6:38:45 PM  

Fellows: Eating food at a rally or other political event was grounds for being fired at one of the newspapers I worked at.


Soft drinks were fine, food crosses the line is what I was taught. That's from the RTNDA perspective, can't speak for SPJ ethics rules.
 
Joliet_Jake
2008-10-21 6:41:33 PM  
It's Chicago. It's all Union work, and it isn't cheap. Deal with it.
 
asmodeus224
2008-10-21 6:43:48 PM  
So i guess this makes Obama a:
hot headed,
angry,
cool,
aloof,
elite,
communist,
socialist,
secret anti american muslim,
crazy fringe christian,
socialist,
capitalist pig.

Have I gotten all that right, you f'ing retarded conservative Republicans?
 
Anti_illuminati
2008-10-21 6:46:31 PM  

asmodeus224: So i guess this makes Obama a:
hot headed,
angry,
cool,
aloof,
elite,
communist,
socialist,
secret anti american muslim,
crazy fringe christian,
socialist,
capitalist pig.

Have I gotten all that right, you f'ing retarded conservative Republicans?


You didn't repeat yourself nearly as much as you should have.
 
AdolfOliverPanties
2008-10-21 6:47:28 PM  
If this were for the McCain campaign, he would just have Verizon do it for free.
 
Knight without armor
2008-10-21 6:48:17 PM  
Ah, you guys all say the same thing. Want some real interesting reading- look at the comments to TFA
 
GardenWeasel [TotalFark]
2008-10-21 6:52:18 PM  
Welcome to PAYGO biatches.
You'll get over it.
 
solokumba [TotalFark]
2008-10-21 6:55:17 PM  
Seems fair to me.
 
pdieten
2008-10-21 6:55:36 PM  
So what was done in past elections? It's not like this is the first time the media has covered an election. What has been accepted procedure to date?
 
Bill the unknowing [TotalFark]
2008-10-21 6:57:04 PM  
$ 935 to cover possibly a slice of history? I'm not sure they aren't undercharging by an order of magnitude. Regardless, maybe those who are complaining will later talk to their grandkids about how their feet hurt as well.

Not that I get off on this "being history" but it just simply is. There's a lot of things I'd pay $ 935 to see - Obama on the night of his election (doesn't count if he doesn't win, sorry to say) would be one of them. So a news reporter complaining about the cost of covering this kind of news?

Next! And I tell ya, it better be a hell of lot better than that LAST complaint!
 
Isitoveryet
2008-10-21 6:58:48 PM  
poor bias media?
 
Rug Doctor
2008-10-21 7:02:05 PM  
If they allow access without use of resources to nonpaying reporters, I have no problem with this. It's not Obama's job to coddle the media at his own expense.

However, if they lock anyone who doesn't pony up out of the building, they can go fark themselves. That is no way for the president to act toward the press, no matter what Bush and Palin have been doing lately. Obama is better than that, and the networks should call him on it if he tries that crap.

/Reporter
//Obama supporter
 
Lawnchair
2008-10-21 7:05:33 PM  

Rug Doctor: However, if they lock anyone who doesn't pony up out of the building, they can go fark themselves. That is no way for the president to act toward the press, no matter what Bush and Palin have been doing lately. Obama is better than that, and the networks should call him on it if he tries that crap.


Don't worry. You're following subby's fail, not the article (even if it is from the Sun-Times).

A general media area will be created where a reporter could watch for free, but the set-up is separate, unequal and clearly second class when it comes to getting top access to campaign people.

The campaign could not have made going to the free space more unappealing. If will be "outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views. General Media Area credentials do not include access to riser positions, satellite truck parking or the press filing center."

The $880 subby mentions is for a riser position.
 
BoisePaul
2008-10-21 7:07:25 PM  
I'd love to see any media outlet try and independently contract a 100A circuit, a 20A circuit, broadband, multiple telephone lines (I don't care whether its POTS or ISDN, a pair is still a pair) and pay less than the fees listed. Could the campaign just give the services away - probably, but that wouldn't be ethical. Imagine the talk of "Obama buying the MSM with all kinds of perks" that would (justifiably) result. It sounds like free access without services is being granted. The idea that it's not in a prime location is speculation.
 
syzygy whizz
2008-10-21 7:08:44 PM  

AspectRatio: Some of the comments on this article are just so precious:

----
silly-ass hysterical bloviation comments

As if McCain's election night press areas will be free for the taking.



Just out of curiousity, what kind of arrangements does the McCain/Palin campaign have set up?

Johnny Mac used to be such good buddies with the press...until Sarah Palin joined the ticket and they started asking her questions being so mean and disrespectful towards her, so this should be interesting.
 
rotatingpies
2008-10-21 7:08:49 PM  
I wouldn't be surprised if they're doing this just because of the historic nature of this election and Obama's candidacy specifically. Do you really think the same number of journalists and organizations have put in requests for access to McCain HQ? Obama's people have to control access somehow, or else they let everyone in. So, it comes down to supply and demand. You want in? You gotta pay.
 
rppp01a
2008-10-21 7:10:49 PM  
So Obama's campaign says 'pay $935 to hang out for a night' while Palin says 'sure, I'll share my emails- for 15 million.'

Hm. I need to stock up on cheese ....
 
Madame Ovary
2008-10-21 7:11:39 PM  
I don't have a problem with this. $1000 is not much in the corporate world.
 
CravenMorehead
2008-10-21 7:14:45 PM  
So they're really only charging $55 for the tent. Not a bad deal.
 
Rug Doctor
2008-10-21 7:15:37 PM  

Lawnchair: Rug Doctor: However, if they lock anyone who doesn't pony up out of the building, they can go fark themselves. That is no way for the president to act toward the press, no matter what Bush and Palin have been doing lately. Obama is better than that, and the networks should call him on it if he tries that crap.

Don't worry. You're following subby's fail, not the article (even if it is from the Sun-Times).

A general media area will be created where a reporter could watch for free, but the set-up is separate, unequal and clearly second class when it comes to getting top access to campaign people.

The campaign could not have made going to the free space more unappealing. If will be "outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views. General Media Area credentials do not include access to riser positions, satellite truck parking or the press filing center."

The $880 subby mentions is for a riser position.


Son of a biatch. I broke the first rule of Fark: RTFA before commenting. Especially in the Politics tab.
 
Theseus Jones
2008-10-21 7:21:49 PM  
How much do you think it costs these reporters to cover Brad Pitt, or Jennifer Aniston, or whoever? A lot more than that. Get over it and get used to the idea that people want a piece of Obama a lot more than they want a piece of that wrinkled bag of crap the Republicans call a candidate.
 
Manfred J. Hattan
2008-10-21 7:23:12 PM  
The blogger's lucky Hillary didn't win the nomimation. The prices at the Javits center would make that list look like a rounding error.

/Oh, you wanted to plug into that outlet we just installed? That's extra.
//Give us a call when you want to unplug.
 
MrGumboPants
2008-10-21 7:23:41 PM  
I am gonna be soooooo drunk.
 
CentralValleyCali
2008-10-21 7:24:07 PM  
So, free is what McCain is going to do right? Riiiiigggghhht. Most of you probably don't even know what the technical setups are let alone how much they should cost.

Funny how the prices McCain imposes are absent. Typical Republicans.
 
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