Tag: Dan Froomkin

Livestreaming the closed door debt commission pt. 2

Last week I livestreamed the first closed door meeting of the president’s fiscal commission. I did this out of frustration that we received no response to a letter that we sent from 81 organizations representing over 61 million Americans, asking that all the work of the commission be done in the open. Letters were also sent by Chairman John Conyers and Minority Leader Boehner asking for transparency.

Dan Froomkin sums up the problem with closed door meetings for the commission at the Huffington Post saying,

The move only heightens suspicion that rather than forging a national consensus on future spending priorities, the commission’s work will consist of backroom dealings in which members of the Washington aristocracy find high-minded excuses for cutting the social safety net.

You can watch the highlights of our previous livestream here

Vroom-kin!

When Dan Froomkin was dumped by ex-journalism source turned dinosaur and failing propaganda rag The Washington Post a couple of weeks ago, I added myself to his his email update list to keep track of his moves, and earlier today the following was emailed to his list, and also posted at http://busharchive.froomkin.com/goodbye.htm


A Special Message From Dan Froomkin





I’m delighted to announce that starting later this month, I’ll be taking on the duties of Washington Bureau Chief and Blogger for The Huffington Post.

This is a wonderful opportunity for me. It’s a marvelous platform — Arianna Huffington has built a large and thriving community of readers by adhering to the best principles of old and new media. And my new job gives me a chance to branch out a bit, while holding firm to my commitment to accountability journalism. Now I’ll have a chance to work as part of a great team, and do a bit more of my own reporting as well as commentary and media criticism..

I’ll still be writing frequently, but I’ll also be guiding the Huffington Post’s accomplished, enthusiastic and adventurous reporters; helping them continue covering Washington the way it should be covered. The extraordinary response to my departure from The Washington Post once again illustrated how much readers hunger for a new – or perhaps I should say old – method of political reporting: One that doesn’t rely on stenography or “splitting the difference,” but involves knowledgeable and trusted reporters calling things as they see them, speaking the truth — and letting the chips fall where they may. We’ll also be finding new and exciting ways to work with citizen journalists to access their wisdom and knowledge.

I look forward to working with all my new colleagues to hold the powerful accountable, expose corruption, explain how Washington really works —  and write about politics and government not as if it were just a game, but recognizing that it matters profoundly to every one of us.

I’m eager to hear your reaction and advice, as always. E-mail me at [email protected].

Salon blogger Glenn Greenwald has more about my move.

And one final note: I will continue serving in a part-time capacity as deputy editor of NiemanWatchdog.org.

Dan Froomkin’s White House Watch has ended its run on washingtonpost.com.

Read my final post and find my Obama archives here.

Browse my Bush archives here.

Become my Facebook friend.

Visit my other Web site, NiemanWatchdog.org.

E-mail me at [email protected]