WHY am I not surprised to learn of this?
Just how creepy is it to be conducting an interview of a Chicago alderman in City Hall, and suddenly notice a member of the Mayor’s “press team” standing two feet away, listening and typing into their smart phone??
Uhhhh……?
Why doesn’t Mayor Emanuel have his “press team” simply hand out a “daily fact sheet” to reporters showing up at City Hall? Oh yeah— the First Amendment, freedom of the press and all of that. How inconvenient.
Again folks, this is one more example of “democratic” politicians acting just as arrogantly and stupidly as the GOP variety. This sounds exactly like something a President Rubio would do. Weak, very weak.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s press office is defending its use of eavesdropping on reporters’ conversations with aldermen.
Many City Hall reporters have experienced it lately: Staffers will pop up behind or next to reporters while they’re conducting interviews with aldermen outside the City Council chambers. The staffers will lean in and type furiously on their smartphones as the interview continues.
I’ve experienced it myself. I caught two of these interactions on tape: Once when I was interviewing freshman Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24), and then a week later, during an interview with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32).