Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

press room

This reminds me of a plot point from an early episode of The West Wing, in which Sam suggests moving the press corps from the White House to the Old Executive Office Building, an idea that isn’t taken particularly well.

Everyone who visits the White House Briefing room — and the working press’s warren of dingy cubicles beyond and below it — leaves a bit disillusioned. It’s all so dingy and depressing.

But apparently it’s also a firetrap.

Joseph Curl of the Washington Times reported yesterday: “Talks are under way for a major renovation of the White House briefing room and press work area in the West Wing, prompted in part by a General Services Administration walk-through inspection that found the cramped and cluttered quarters to be a ‘firetrap.’ …

“During the renovation, reporters could be moved to workspace in the Old Executive Office Building. The work is expected to start in August, when President Bush often retreats to his Texas ranch for several weeks, but could begin earlier.” …

But my question is: Will reporters really be allowed back? It’s hard to imagine the White House press office won’t make at least a token effort to permanently displace the press corps from its current lodgings.

After all, it may be a basement — and a sub-basement — but it’s still only yards from the Oval Office, making it about the most prized office location anywhere.

(Dan Froomkin, washingtonpost.com: “Bush Won’t Budge on Private Accounts” - 03/16/05)