The cable news networks all carried Robert Gibbs’ first White House press briefing this afternoon.
Among the new crop covering the Obama administration: Chuck Todd for NBC, Chip Reid for CBS, Jake Tapper for ABC.
Helen Thomas, who’s been covering presidents since Kennedy, asked Gibbs about torture…which he may soon be feeling himself from some in the press corps who were accused of going easy on candidate Obama and pledge to be tougher on President Obama.
Before the briefing got underway, CNN’s new chief White House correspondent Ed Henry explained to anchor Kyra Phillips that when the briefing room was renovated in 2007, CNN got in a seat in the front row, while “another cable network” is still in the second row.
Henry: That was based mostly by seniority, because CNN had been around a little longer than another cable network that shall go nameless.
Phillips: I already saw Major Garrett in the second row there. As long as Fox is behind you…
Henry: He is, and he’s turning red right now.
Phillips: Tell him I said ‘hi’ and I miss him working for CNN.
Henry: Okay. Kyra Phillips says hello. I think we probably should get ready for this presser now, Kyra.
Phillips: (laughter) Okay see you in a little bit. Thank You. You’re a trooper. Oh boy. I hope I keep my job.
Also getting in a question to Gibbs: Bloomberg News’ Julianna Goldman (aka Mrs. David Shuster).
So, did you watch? How do you think the new press corps did on day one? Leave your comments below…
• Earlier on TVNewser CBS’s Bill Plante Challenges Gibbs Over Potential “Pay to Play” Deal with ABC…