NBC is counting on big ratings for Barack Obama's Thursday appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The network is attempting to control media access to the taping, trying to control leaks to boost viewership.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is hoping to use comedian Jay Leno's late-night show to add a light touch to his work getting the economy on track. But news photographers who cover the White House aren't laughing.
The pool of media that accompanies the president wherever he goes won't be allowed into the NBC studio during Thursday's taping of that night's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." That pool of about 14 journalists, made up of print and radio reporters, one TV camera crew and a few still photographers, will instead be held in a separate room where a live feed from the studio will be shown.
NBC has said its set is too small to accommodate the photographers and it will release a photo of its own afterward for the media to use.
The White House compromised Wednesday evening, saying photographers would be allowed to take pictures during a commercial break.
Photographers argued for the right to independently document the taping, a rare—and perhaps unprecedented—appearance by a sitting president on a late-night comedy show and an event billed primarily as a news event, not entertainment.
How shrewd of Leno and NBC to try to keep a lid on images of Obama's appearance until the show airs!
This is interesting.
Is Obama's appearance news or is it entertainment?
Should NBC have the right to not permit this "news event" to be covered by the press as the event occurs?
I don't think that's right.
However, I don't consider this to be a "news event."
I certainly don't think of it as entertainment either.
It's pure propaganda. It will be a campaign commercial.
Don't expect any tough questions or follow-up challenges from sycophant Leno, just big Obama love.
A few questions---
Will Obama's staff demand that they have control over Leno's questions?
Will Obama's staff try to pack the audience with Obama-friendly people?
Will Michelle make a "surprise" appearance?
Will Leno give a high-ranking Republican elected official equal time on his show? (We must have fairness.)
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