Live 8: Problems with Credentials

Joe Trippi has issued his personal apology via this entry on his blog. It reads:

I've heard that there have been problems with some of the bloggers getting credentials that we promised to them. With 9 concerts happening all over the world in one day, we should have expected that there would be issues like this.

While it may not have been my fault that some people didn't get credentials, it doesn't matter - i'll take the blame. I personally apologize to everyone who thought that they would get credentials, showed up to the concert, and then got left out. It was certainly not our intent for this to happen and I am very, very sorry.

We absolutely appreciate everything that everyone in the blogosphere has done for Live 8 so far. You are part of an historical worldwide movement to save lives and change the world. Thank you for your time, your effort, and your voice. I hope that you have learned as much about the community of humanity as I have while being involved in this project.

Thanks,
Joe

I was so excited to be a fully credentialed member of the press covering this gigantic trans-continental event. I had seen a photo of what the press pass looked like the day before. Attached to a lanyard, a circle with the Live 8 Guitar/Africa symbol at center, sparkly and holographic. The problems started the night before when we were told that we would not be able to get our paws on them until an hour before the Philly acts started, well after things got started down by the stage.

When we went to pick up our passes, was I surprised to see that all we got was a green wristband. Think of that plasticy-papery wristband you get at an open bar or a club, that's what we had. We later found out that this wristband was, in effect, a V.I.P. access band. This V.I.P. band actually meant that I'd get better action photos as I was able to get right up close to the stage, but at the same time it meant that we'd have zero access backstage. Which, in turn, meant no chance to ask the presenters and performers questions. It meant no WiFi access until I was able to finagle my way into a secondary tent further from the stage. It meant getting harassed by a police officer and event staffer for being in a place they thought I should not have been.

It's tough to be promised one thing and then given another very different thing. I made the best of it and enjoyed myself and got up as many posts live from the event as I could without missing too many acts. I'm not angry at Joe, his organization nor Technorati and One; I'm just frustrated. Frustrated that bloggers and citizen journalists are not granted the same access as a news organization. What will it take? News organizations like Talon News [which was set up just prior to Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert obtaining a White House Press Pass] gain access to the White House where they are able to ask questions to the President of the United States [horrible questions at that].

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