A sign of the times: White House cuts back its press briefing schedule

In what could be interpreted as a sign that life is slowing down at the White House--although White House officials do not put it this way--Press Secretary Dana Perino said today she would "collapse the gaggle and the briefing."

To translate, that means that the informal, not-for-cameras, morning briefing known as the "gaggle" is being abandoned, and the midday, on-camera briefing is being moved up an hour or so to late morning.

To an outsider, it may all seem like no more than a housekeeping detail.

It is that, but the reality is that as the days of the Bush White House dwindle, fewer reporters have been showing up for either event. Perhaps one-third of the 49 seats in the White House press briefing room are occupied, and the briefings are growing shorter.

The "gaggle" is intended to provide reporters with answers to questions that have come up over night and in the early morning. It provides a look at the president's schedule, and the White House line on expected events during the day.

The mid-day briefing has become more of a television show, with some reporters--often from obscure news outlets--ignoring the off-camera morning session and using the mid-day meeting as a stage to ask their questions on camera.

By pushing the first session back an hour or two, Perino--seen with the President and White House Counselor Ed Gillespie as they left the White House for a visit today to Louisiana--told reporters today aboard Air Force One: "I hope that the press will be better served ... because I'll have more time to track down and get answers that have come in over night and in the early morning."

In addition, she said, the earlier start to the formal briefing will better serve "large international audiences that we are trying to reach that are several hours ahead of us."

As the two sessions conflate, the first question that might come up: Is this the "griefing" or the "braggle?"

As for the president himself, it's a quiet week to match the reduced briefing schedule. After returning from Louisiana today, there was nothing on his public schedule until Sunday--when he particpiates in a T-ball game on the White House South Lawn. In between, he was planning three days at Camp David, Md.

For the president's public schedule, click on See Full Story...

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo: Tim Sloan / AFP/Getty Images

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                                                                          September 2, 2008

This Information Subject To Change

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 | Sunday, September 7, 2008

Wednesday, September 3

11:15 am          THE PRESIDENT participates in a Briefing at

Emergency

Operations

Center

CDT                Emergency Operations Center | Baton Rouge, Louisiana

                        POOL AT TOP

                       RON:

Washington

,

DC

Thursday, September 4 – Friday, September 5

                        RON:

Camp David

Saturday, September 6

                        RON: 

Washington

,

DC

Sunday, September 7

4:00 pm            THE PRESIDENT participates in White House Tee Ball Game

EDT                 South Lawn, The White House

                        OPEN PRESS

                        RON:

Washington

,

DC

# # #

Comments

[Jeffrey Allen Miller NY]

Now is the time the press should be watching every move in the White House. You all already wrote the attorneys are doubling up their orders and memos to protect this administration and its pals from any and all future responsibility. This admin is taking advantage of the media's interest in the new race by keeping a low profile....but they are working overtime to ensure this dictator's rule lasts for decades to come through presidential order.