Obama Administration punishes reporter for using multimedia

Most open, high-tech, accessible administration….(n)ever.

Yes, it’s true. The social media-darling-in-chief has banned a San Francisco Chronicle reporter for using her cell phone to capture video of left-wing protesters at the Bay Area Obama fundraiser earlier this week.

Banned.

The White House press shop refuses to comment on the record about it — and, no surprise, other reporters have apparently been threatened for talking about the banishment.

SFChronicle’s Phil Bronstein reports:

The hip, transparent and social media-loving Obama administration is showing its analog roots. And maybe even some hypocrisy highlights.

White House officials have banished one of the best political reporters in the country from the approved pool of journalists covering presidential visits to the Bay Area for using now-standard multimedia tools to gather the news.

The Chronicle’s Carla Marinucci – who, like many contemporary reporters, has a phone with video capabilities on her at all times – pulled out a small video camera last week and shot some protesters interrupting an Obama fundraiser at the St. Regis Hotel.

She was part of a “print pool” – a limited number of journalists at an event who represent their bigger hoard colleagues – which White House press officials still refer to quaintly as “pen and pad” reporting.

But that’s a pretty Flintstones concept of journalism for an administration that presents itself as the Jetsons.

Here’s the kicker:

So what’s up with the White House? We can’t say because neither Press Secretary Jay Carney nor anyone from his staff would speak on the record.

Other sources confirmed that Carla was vanquished, including Chronicle editor Ward Bushee, who said he was “informed that Carla was removed as a pool reporter.” Which shouldn’t be a secret in any case because it’s a fact that affects the newsgathering of our largest regional paper (and sfgate)and how local citizens get their information.

What’s worse: more than a few journalists familiar with this story are aware of some implied threats from the White House of additional and wider punishment if Carla’s spanking became public. Really? That’s a heavy hand usually reserved for places other than the land of the free.

Saying it again: See, I told you so.

Maybe it’s finally time to put those drool buckets away, MSM?

michellemalkin.com