July 06, 2004

L.A. panel on journalist visas Wed. July 7, 2004

Via Matt Welch:

I'm writing to encourage you to attend the L.A. Press Club's news-making panel about how LAX border guards have been stopping European and Australian reporters at the airport, cuffing and searching them, and shipping them back home, for failing to have a previously undemanded Journalist Visa. Its tomorrow (Wednesday) night at the Press Club's seminar room, 6464 Sunset Blvd., 8th floor. Drinks & snacks are served at 6:30, and the discussion begins at 7:30; $5 for members, $20 for non- (price covers drinks). RSVP to info@lapressclub.org, or call 323-469-8180 (more details pasted below). I'm moderating.

It sounds interesting, but... $20? In 99 Cents Only Store terms and speaking about drinks, that's almost 130 pounds worth of Diet Shasta cola. I might go, but the admission fee is a strong disencentive.

Previous L.A. Press Club coverage starts here.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Far-lefty Marc Cooper prints the other side of the story from an anonymous DHS employee. (Via this)

Posted to Los_Angeles at July 6, 2004 05:25 PM

Comments

Sorry 'bout that, Loney; I do what I can to tell them to scale the ridiculous prices back, but it just doesn't amount to as much as it should. If it helps, I have at least *some* idea of what you might ask.... Also, judging from the private conversation we had tonight, you would certainly have an interesting private conversation with the U.S. Consul General to TJ....

Posted by: Matt Welch at July 6, 2004 06:49 PM

judging from the private conversation we had tonight

Huh? I think you must have me confatabulsed with someone else. Perhaps it was one of my doubles.

But, seriously, if you are MW, when and where was this private conversation?

For the record, I don't have a problem with visas for journalists.

Posted by: The Lonewacko Blog at July 6, 2004 08:38 PM

Bad phrasing, on account of in-a-hurry & generally poor English. I had an interesting private conversation with the guy, and it was the kind of private conversation that made me think "damn, I betcha Lonewacko woulda liked to have a private conversation with the guy, too."

Posted by: Matt Welch at July 7, 2004 04:00 PM