Monday, March 28, 2005

Heh!



This is really worth a laugh or two: A planned panel on blogging will have, guess who as a representative of us bloggers (and online journalists)? Well, of course Wonkette will be there, she always is, but I didn't mean her. Guess again.

I bet you didn't get it! Jeff Gannon aka Jim Guckert! YEAH!

Here is the explanation for his presence. If you can call it an explanation:


Jeff Gannon is back. At the National Press Club?

Yes, the same day that the prestigious Washington, D.C., journalism organization plans to present a lunch talk by former Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee, it will also allow the former White House reporter/sex site operator to be on a panel discussing bloggers and online journalism.

Gannon, whose real name is James Guckert, resigned his job with the conservative Talon News last month after it was revealed he had used a pseudonym, had little journalism background, and had ties to male escort Web sites.

Still, Press Club leaders will include Gannon on the panel April 8 that includes Wonkette.com editor Ana Marie Cox, National Journal's John Stanton, and others.

Gannon told E&P today that he always considered himself a legitimate journalist, and "perhaps their invitation is recognition of that."

Press Club President Rick Dunham, who also covers the White House for BusinessWeek, called Gannon "a figure in the news" who is involved in an important journalistic issue.

"The panel came together because we wanted to discuss some issues that came about from the Gannon case," said Mike Madden, a Gannett News Service reporter and a member of the Press Club's Professional Affairs committee, which is organizing the free event. "So we thought, why not try to get him?"


Let me off the merry-go-round! I'm getting dizzy.
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Tip and the second link via dcmediagirl, work on the topic by Agonist