CNN Narc Tattles on Fellow Reporters, Gets Lambasted by Internet
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The White House press briefing is dying, with Trump, Spicer, et al slowly reducing the number of meetings with the press, the length of those meetings, and exactly what sort of journalism is permissible within them. The latest limitation is that cameras and audio recording devices are now forbidden from many briefings, which has pissed off more than a few journalists, including CNN’s Jim Acosta. (Who is currently railing against the administration on Twitter.)
Under the new rules, the terms of each press briefing are sent out the night before, in a so-called “guidance agreement” email from the White House. This, in fact, is not an agreement at all—at least not in the sense that anybody from the press corps actually has a say in the matter. Additionally, these guidance agreements contain a “not for reporting” mandate, which has mostly been ignored.
Now, there are a few ways for journalists to respond to this mess. They can accept it, which is pretty lame. They can get angry, like Acosta did, which seems like the appropriate reaction when the White House tries to cut them—and therefore the American people—out of the loop. But there’s also a third way: They can ignore the larger first amendment implications and bitch about their fellow journalists ignoring the “not for reporting” clause in the guidance reports. This is clearly the path to take if you are a petty, obedient snitch.
Enter CNN’s Dylan Byers:
Not defending WH, but reporters tweeting that tomorrow’s briefing is off-camera technically breaking “not for reporting” guidance agreement.
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) June 22, 2017
There’s a lot to say about Byers, and a lot to say about this tweet, and lucky for us, the Internet—a category that includes many of his colleagues—said it. We now turn you over to the righteous backlash:
if you think like this, you probably should leave journalism and go be a cop or a geography teacher pic.twitter.com/JGfmpgayY5
— libby watson ???? (@libbycwatson) June 22, 2017
Actually bruh this is you defending the White House
— Connor Wroe Southard (@ConnorSouthard) June 22, 2017
— Will ???? Menaker (@willmenaker) June 22, 2017
— Paul Blest (@pblest) June 22, 2017
When did we enter into an agreement?
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 22, 2017
Please post a copy of that “agreement.”
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) June 22, 2017
Next time you’re about to take it personally because someone attacked the media, remember Dylan Byers and Howie Kurtz are the media. https://t.co/VhQcbhvyGc
— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) June 22, 2017
And you’re technically breaking the sacred “no snitchin'” agreement. https://t.co/MFXaSDN0eY
— Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) June 22, 2017
Not defending WH, but reporters tweeting that they are slowly being lowered into a vat of acid technically breaking “not for reporting” guid https://t.co/IOf2LE9iLg
— David Burr Gerrard (@DBGerrard) June 22, 2017
Not defending WH, but staffers tweeting they’re to suffer in new ‘torture dungeon’ below bowling alley are technically breaking their NDAs.
— Ben Coccio (@bencoccio) June 22, 2017
is your back sore from carrying all that water
— Antoine Linguine (@aklingus) June 22, 2017
NOt deFenDiNg wH, bUt rePorTerS twEetIng tHat TomoRrOw’s bRiEfiNg iS oFf-caMerA teChnIcalLy bReakIng “noT For repOrtInG” guiDaNcE AgReemEnT. pic.twitter.com/AQNd6jt0mb
— Markov Chain Chomp (@Pliny_theElder) June 22, 2017
who cares? You’re the press, you should be fighting for your right to accurately cover and convey the things that happen in our government
— Anish Saraiya (@AMSaraiya) June 22, 2017
Not criticizing you, but saying “not defending the WH” when clearly defending the WH is pure hack. Again, not criticizing you.
— Jeff Edwards (@jeffywords) June 22, 2017
The abuse goes on from there, including insults like: Boot-licker, toady, nerd, narc, and coward. Not defending the Internet here, but, uh…he kinda deserves it.