Copyrighting The President: Big Media's vested interest

[LynnTheDem]

US president owns neither his words nor his image - at least not when he speaks in public on important matters. Anyone is free to use what he says, and the way he says it, to criticize or to praise. The president, in this sense, is "free." But what happens when the commander in chief uses private venues to deliver public messages, holding fewer press conferences and making more talk-show appearances? Who controls his words and images then?

In August, Robert Greenwald will release an updated version of his award-winning film, Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War. Greenwald has added a clip of President George W. Bush's February interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press, NBC's Sunday morning talk show. In the clip, the president defends his decision to go to war - astonishingly unconvincingly.

Greenwald asked NBC for permission to run the one-minute clip - offering to pay for the right, as he had done for every other clip that appears in the film. NBC said no. The network explained to his agent that the clip is "not very flattering to the president."

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0818-10.htm

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Thanks LTD!!

(and welcome to DU :hi: )

"not very flattering to the president" kind of says it all.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Very bad precedent.

If he steals the election again, we may only glimpse his presence on NBC....too wierd.

[asjr]

3. If that isn't proof the administration

owns the media, I don't know what will give proof. Anything unflattering to Bill CLinton got on 24/7.

[Lisa]

4. they spend big bucks staging his events ...

Bush's people have hired consultants from Hollywood and the networks, because they know how to dress up a set and make the photos and video look pretty.