Monkey Business Meets Media

Not sure what this proves, but back in the days of Desk Assistant Jen, when I landed the first interview with Elise Gazwitz sparking a firestorm of media attention escalating the story to GMA, never once did Armani bite me. (Granted I did my interviews over the phone, but not relevant here.)   

The Reliable Source
By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Tuesday, November 4, 2008; C03

Text hereWho Could've Predicted This Monkey Business?
In an explosion of campaign tension, a prominent pundit violently attacked a local reporter, sending her to the hospital two days before Election Day.
The pundit: celebrated capuchin monkey Armani, who bit a WTOP reporter at the news conference where the primate revealed his presidential pick.
Armani is best known for owner Elyse Gazewitz's long -- and successful -- legal battle to return him to her Rockville home after animal control officers, citing wild-animal regulations, seized him. Since then, he has developed a sideline in punditry, albeit with a mixed record. (He predicted Hillary Clinton and Mike Huckabee as the nominees and the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. But he successfully matched a couple for The Post's Date Lab.)
On Sunday, WTOP's Amy Held and a Fox 5 TV crew went to Gazewitz's home to see whom Armani likes in today's election. WTOP News VP Jim Farley told us that as Held reached for her mike, the monkey leapt over and bit her on the pinky, drawing blood.
Back at the office, Held's bosses insisted that she get treated. At Georgetown Hospital, doctors gave her a tetanus shot and put her on antibiotics for a week. Held, who returned to work yesterday, declined to comment. "This is the wackiest workman's comp case I've ever had to fill out forms for," Farley said.
Gazewitz offered a different account, saying Armani, perched on her shoulder, "got threatened" when Held approached with a microphone. "It was just a little nip," she said. "He's never done that before. He just didn't like her for whatever reason."
After carefully studying photos of the candidates, Armani made his pick: Barack Obama. "He's definitely a Democrat," Gazewitz said.

Aggressive Journalism

Yesterday, Senator Barbara Mikulski announced her proposal to carve out about 2 billion from the stimulus package part II for the auto industry essentially giving new car buyers a tax break to stimulate demand again.

Now getting a senator to talk to you on the phone is hard work for a small newsroom, luckily for us she was making this announcement right up the street. No surprise, but I was running late to the press conference.

After dumping the news van (explorer) off on some poor maintenance man across the street we dove in on the scene. Reporters everywhere and the senator dipping into a car all of two feet away from me. Well unlike those fancy cable teevee reporters, we have a handy cam and a short mic leash.....and no shame. I had that mic so close to the poor woman's face, you'd think she was made of chocolate.

You would have thought we were breaking Watergate the way we jumped into the story, meanwhile the lackadaisical press core jotted notes and causally changed tapes. Anywho - it got our mic flag on two local channels this am. Watch and see! Our mic flag now officially has gotten more camera time than Street Talk's Jen Richer! Harrumph!

Just Doing the Work of The People

Damn Skippy Brown

Is Shielding Sarah Palin Sexist?

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

Viewers of CNN’s prime-time program, “Campbell Brown: Election Center,” might have been surprised last night to see the host rip into the McCain campaign.

Like an Arctic blast, Ms. Brown slammed the campaign for sequestering Sarah Palin from reporters — and blamed their behavior on sexism.

“I call upon the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower who will wilt at any moment,” Ms. Brown declared.

“This woman is from Alaska, for crying out loud,” she went on. “She is strong. She is tough. She is confident. And you claim she is ready to be one heartbeat away from the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now.”

McCain aides had no comment Wednesday as they focused on the financial crisis.

Ms. Brown said in an interview that her commentary was part of a broader effort by CNN that includes fact-checks and truth-squads to “cut through the bull and the misinformation” that have permeated the entire campaign.

Asked whether CNN felt a need to be edgier, since it’s up against opinion on MSNBC and FOX, she said no.

“They are both partisan and bringing their partisan views into what they do, and that’s not what we’re doing,” she said. “I don’t see it as opinion. For me, it’s about accountability. I’m approaching this as a journalist,” she said, adding that she would take on Senator Barack Obama when she thinks he crosses the line.

And yes, by the way, she does think that the McCain campaign is being sexist about Ms. Palin. “The McCain campaign says that if she were a man, the media would not be treating her this way,” she said. “So it’s fair of me to ask, if she were a man, would they be coddling her this way?”

Readers who posted comments on the CNN Web site had mixed reactions. “If it’s provocative,” Ms. Brown said, “that’s a good thing.”

Now That's Real Reporting!

Shenanigans: Begala's book

Begala, he’s got another book

One thing’s for sure: You can hand it to the Dems for showing support. What in the world was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doing at professional Democratic pundit Paul Begala’s book party Tuesday night during such trying and truculent times as these? For Begala’s sixth book, at that?

But there he was, showing his support at 101 Constitution Ave. — location, location, location — for Begala’s latest, “Third Term.” As you might have guessed, the 288 pages expand upon the book’s subtitle, “Why George W. Bush John McCain.”

Jampacked with Bill Clinton Democrats, the gathering was described by one attendee as “the 1992 War Room.” The crowd included Mandy Grunwald, Donna Brazile, John Podesta, a handful of CNN-ers, Bob Barnett, Bill Press, Jonathan Capehart, Walter Shapiro, Michael Meehan, Jake Perry and former Carville-ite Todd DeLorenzo.

We thought we were talking to Top Dog Reid about the bailout when we asked, “Is it going to pass this week, sir?” “What?” he shrugged in response.

Meanwhile, Begala kindly answered Shenanigans’ burning questions.

Q: Top five favorite people on Capitol Hill?

A: Nonelected officials only:

1. The ladies at the Senate reception desk

2. The Capitol Police

3. Harry Reid’s staff

4. Everyone in Hillaryland

5. The poor people on Rahm Emanuel’s staff

Q: Most influential TV host?

A: You mean, besides Stephen Colbert?

Q: Finish this sentence, “If I had a minute with Rush Limbaugh, I’d _________.”

A: Dump a bottle of OxyContin on the floor and watch him dive for ’em.

Q: Most inaccurate thing ever said about you?

A: “You should be on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’”

Q: Most inaccurate thing ever said about Bush?

A: “He’s not as dumb as they say.”

Q: Most accurate thing ever said about McCain?

A: “His suffering and service in Vietnam were truly heroic.”

Q: Most accurate ever said about Obama?

A: “He married well.”

Q: Finish this sentence, “The last time I saw John McCain, I _________.”

A: “Was at a GOP primary debate. Couldn’t get close to McCain, however. He was surrounded by lobbyists.”

Q: Plans for Nov. 5?

A: “I will be in New York, on CNN, covering the election returns with the Best Political Team in Television and the Best Bottle of Tequila in New York.”

A Living Classic

Half a century ago, Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe published a novel about a proud Ibo man. In just fifty years his mere 200 pages established a voice for African writers and transformed the literary world.

Thousands of high schoolers read Things Fall Apart every year as required reading. I have to admit, I read it for my senior AP English seminar because it was one of the shorter options on the list. I have always been deeply fascinated with everything African, but lets be honest, I was a busy girl looking down the tunnel of a 30 pager to follow the reading so I opted to keep it short.

It is one of the few books that changed my point of view. As Achebe said Monday, "You can read it a several times and find something new...and I wrote it."


Written in 1958 he was the first published African author to become an international bestseller. With his writings he provided a window into the continent.

When asked why he started writing he said,"I tried to answer Conrad's criticism [in Heart of Darkness] that Africans don't have a language... that was not Africa." Achebe carries the weight of meaning not in the obscure assemblage of letters - like some overly grasping poets, but in his simplicity. Like a reporter he tells the story by describing chosen details; perhaps why I find his work so attractive.

I obviously am not the only one. Fans lined up gripping books, I had my second copy in my hand (I had to buy a hardback edition because my  first copy is in an embarrassing state) at the reception before his awarding of the Patriot Award. Originally set up to host light conversation became a mob scene as attendees pressed in on the authors wheel chair. Some wanting signitures, others just a handshake and a few words.

What an undertaking, I have seen the author introduced twice now, both times by amazing literary academics, and I have to ask how do you describe exactly what Achebe has contributed in under 10 minutes. 

Well the mayor of Fairfax clearly did not take the same considerations as he introduced the author  he plowed through his last name, to the shock and offense of the audience.

The spectrum in attendance Monday was as varied as the publication covers. From high school students, cliquey college kids to middle aged business men, 2,000 turned out at George Mason's Patriot Center to see the living legend.

Achebe read from a selection of poems including The Explorer as well as his Things Fall Apart. Having missed to opportunity to get his signature at the Washington Post reading last April, I was determined this go around. Mid reading I jumped up and jetted to the signing line. Surprisingly I was the first this time. VICTORY!

As I shared with Dr. Achebe - looking at the diversity of the 2,000 fans lined up for a signature was truly a testament to the impact of his work.

Boys on the Bus

I got the chance to ride along in the McCain motorcade last Wednesday. More details to come.

The Tweedles

After you start to spend a considerable amount of time together...you start to look like each other.

On this particular day, the members of a certain unnamed news organization arrived on the scene donning.....uniforms?

Reporting Live

How appropriate! Coinciding with the Wahine Report's 100th post is my second report for the BBC! Speaking to the Paris Hilton video reaction to McCain's ad, I am reporting for BBC Radio, Wales out of the nation's capital.

Back to You In the Studio

Mommie - Reporting for 630 WMAL on the Earthquake

CHINO HILLS, Calif. (AP) - An expert at CalTech says yesterday's big shaker in Southern California should be looked at like an earthquake drill.
The magnitude 5.4 quake wasn't the "Big One" scientists have long feared -- but it was strong enough to rattle nerves and get people talking again about emergency plans.

A fire official in Chino Hills, where the quake was centered, says the region was "really fortunate." It caused limited damage and only minor injuries.
Chino Hills was incorporated in 1991, so much of the construction is newer and built to modern safety standards.

Though it rocked Los Angeles and was felt as far away as San Diego and Las Vegas, yesterday's quake was far less powerful than the deadly Northridge earthquake that toppled bridges and buildings in 1994.

With A Clipboard And An Air of Confidence

WMAL's THE SOURCE!!!

Politico: Bob Novak's victim

Washington Post: Man Hit by Novak Has Hurt Shoulder but Is 'Doing Fine'

The Examiner: Novak's Victim Speaks! "Bob Novak is the one that hit me?!? ... That makes it a great story!"

TMZ:Novak's Victim: Am I Famous Now?

Associated Press:
Man hit by columnist Robert Novak recovering

WASHINGTON (AP) - The homeless man who was struck by a car driven by syndicated columnist Robert Novak says he's surprised to hear the prominent journalist was the driver who hit him.

Don Clifford Liljenquist asked a reporter from WMAL Radio repeatedly whether Novak was the person who hit him. The 86-year-old seemed amused. He said, "Well I think that makes it a great story!"

Liljenquist says his shoulder was dislocated when he was struck Wednesday. He says doctors reset his shoulder and he's "doing fine."

Witnesses say Novak was driving a Chevrolet Corvette near K Street when he hit a pedestrian who rolled up onto the hood of the car. Novak kept driving until a bicyclist stopped him.
Novak has said he didn't know he hit anyone. He was given a $50 traffic citation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Love John

Reporter Vs. Anchor

glumbert - Anchor vs Reporter