'Citizen journalist' at center of Barack Obama 'bitter' words

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: 'Citizen journalist' at center of Barack Obama 'bitter' words
The woman's Web post prompts charges of elitism against Obama, and exposes her to waves of vitriol.
By James Rainey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 15, 2008

...last year, the huffingtonpost.com put out a call to its readers to become citizen journalists, covering the campaign for its new "Off the Bus" feature. (Mayhill) Fowler became one of the project's more prolific contributors.

She attended the Pacific Heights fundraiser after asking an Obama official she knew for an invitation. Although the event had been designated "closed press" by the campaign, she said she openly recorded the candidate's remarks. Others videotaped the session, as evidenced by clips that later appeared on YouTube. Fowler said she initially didn't expect to file a report, as Obama did not diverge from his typical remarks. She got more interested as the candidate talked about the qualities he would look for in a vice president and about the mind-set of Midwesterners who have suffered years of economic losses. Fowler posted Obama's vice presidential musings on April 7....

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Fowler said she thought the comment was condescending, even elitist. "I was thinking to myself, 'Oh my God, he is confirming to my fellow Californians the worst stereotypes they have of small-town America.' I was just dismayed." But Fowler was not sure she would report the statements because she said she was not sure she could capture their proper context. Then she said (project director Amanda) Michel told her: "If you are going to be a journalist, you can't favor one candidate over another."

"I thought about that for awhile," said Fowler. "But it took awhile for me to apply it to myself and . . . to find a way to do (the story) the right way."

Editors at huffingtonpost.com said they confirmed that Fowler had reported Obama's statements precisely and that their citizen reporter had conducted herself properly. Marc Cooper, editorial director of "Off the Bus," said he and others who reviewed the story were convinced that it was "ethically sound." Obama staffers had given Fowler interviews before and recognized her as a Web reporter, Cooper said. Obama campaign officials have not publicly criticized the story or complained about Fowler, who had supported the candidate and given nearly the $2,300 maximum to his campaign for the Democratic nomination. They declined to comment Monday.

The story was reviewed up the website's editorial ladder all the way to founder Ariana Huffington. Vacationing on a yacht in Tahiti, Huffington gave her assent.

Critics doubted that Fowler really wanted Obama to be president, noting that she called Obama "vain" in one posting and, in another, accused him of "cockiness." Fowler said she thought the candidate had made occasional missteps but she continued to admire him. "I remember the day last June I said, 'My god, this man is the next president of the United States,' " Fowler said. "And I still believe that."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bitter15apr15,0,728172.story