A brief glimpse behind the scenes in covering Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre's appearances in Sudbury yesterday. Poilievre's time with media was tightly controlled. At this morning's media event, Poilievre walked into the room from the back to the podium and immediately began his prepared remarks. Following his remarks, a media handler controlled the microphone. He held the microphone as four reporters asked questions, pulling it away immediately after each question. There were no follow-up questions allowed. Unfortunately for those seeking clarity on Conservative intentions, the questions asked were softballs. I was not selected by the media handler to ask a question. After the four questions, Poilievre quickly walked away, shook hands with Pioneer Construction employees who stood in the background of his speech, and walked out a back door. Poilievre was in Sudbury all day. This was his only media availability. An evening rally saw Poilievre deliver a speech to a Radisson Hotel conference room packed with supporters.
(The inevitable comment is someone pointing out that all politicians are the same in their tight control of messaging. In my almost 20 years of experience, that is largely true, though yesterday was more extreme than the average.)
A brief glimpse behind the scenes in covering Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre's appearances in Sudbury yesterday.
Poilievre's time with media was tightly controlled.
At this morning's media event, Poilievre walked into the room from the back to the podium and immediately began his prepared remarks.
Following his remarks, a media handler controlled the microphone. He held the microphone as four reporters asked questions, pulling it away immediately after each question. There were no follow-up questions allowed.
Unfortunately for those seeking clarity on Conservative intentions, the questions asked were softballs.
I was not selected by the media handler to ask a question.
After the four questions, Poilievre quickly walked away, shook hands with Pioneer Construction employees who stood in the background of his speech, and walked out a back door.
Poilievre was in Sudbury all day. This was his only media availability. An evening rally saw Poilievre deliver a speech to a Radisson Hotel conference room packed with supporters.
(The inevitable comment is someone pointing out that all politicians are the same in their tight control of messaging. In my almost 20 years of experience, that is largely true, though yesterday was more extreme than the average.)