As President Obama sat down Thursday for a series of interviews with YouTube celebrities — fashionista Bethany Mota, comedienne GloZell Green and Internet “nerd” Hank Green — some journalists seemed less than happy about it.
“YouTube Star Who Drinks Cereal From a Bathtub to Interview President Obama,” an *ABC News headline blared Thursday.
“This is the green-lipstick-wearing YouTube star who will interview President Obama today,” said a Washington Post article on the same day.
“A woman in green lipstick and a guy who likes fart jokes will interview Obama Thursday,” tweeted U.S. News & World Report Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Reuters’ Amanda Becker added in a separate tweet: “[Tomorrow], an ‘internet celebrity’ famous video in which she chokes on cinnamon – [42 million] views! – interviews the president.”
Just hours hours after the three interviews were announced last week, CNN’s Jim Acosta said during a White House press briefing: “These folks who are going to be conducting these interviews: None of them are professional journalists. They’re people who post videos on YouTube.”
“I’m just curious: Was ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ or ‘David After Dentist’ not available?” he asked, referring to two popular YouTube videos.
Was this professionals’ burning resentment of amateurs horning in on their territory or just good-natured ribbing?
“I feel that, yes, we are witnessing an outpouring of the sourest of grapes. Sure, it’s resentment. And if I’d been putting in a lot of sweat trying to get an interview with the president, maybe I’d succumb to those feelings as well,” Huffington Post media writer Jason Linkins told the Washington Examiner, adding that it’s hardly news for U.S. presidents to try to appeal to larger audiences through popular mediums.
“At any rate, my advice to these disquieted reporters and pundits is this: Let your envy be fleeting. Sure, some kid with weird lipstick caught the opportunity of a lifetime. Take it in stride. After all, at the end of the day, who’s got an expense account? Right? So chill,” he added.
Weekly Standard assistant editor Jim Swift agreed.
“I think the resentment is pretty palpable on social media. I’m obviously not part of the White House press corps, but I can see why folks do resent them being granted access. The president campaigned on being the most transparent administration in history, but the White House Correspondents Association and its members sure seem to have filed a lot of complaints about limited or no access to the Obama White House,” Swift said.
“Yes, the traditional media model is constantly changing, and this White House is doing things differently … But in a childish way. It seems like less a government and more a PR fun house run by millennials. But who knows, maybe Zach Galifianakis and Glozell Green will apply to join the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association in the near future,” he added. “I guess Donte Stallworth, who is actually trying to learn the trade, wasn’t hip enough for an exclusive interview.”
Daily Caller managing editor Christopher Bedford said that the resentment is not only palpable, but it’s also highly amusing.
“Hysterical,” he told the Examiner. “Elmo asked Chelsea harder questions than ABC or the [Washington Post]. And they’re definitely hurt. Do you think they’re able to make jokes about themselves?”
But Talking Points Memo senior congressional reporter Sahil Kapur sees it differently, telling the Examiner that he detects more good-natured ribbing than actual anger.
“I think it’s a mix of good fun and a natural desire among journalists to want to be the one interviewing the president,” he said.
