Shoptalk: Confabs and Celebs

By: Joe Strupp It was quite a week. The most surprising part was when George Clooney talked to me and The New York Times' Bill Keller wouldn't. Then there was the Thelma Houston show, the Seattle Mariners game, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Dean Singleton, Morgan Fairchild, and, of course, Henry Kissinger spitting on me.

I'm talking about the week in late April I spent covering the American Society of Newspaper Editors conference in Seattle and then the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. Six days, 6,000 miles, three planes, one train, and too many cabs.

But the most interesting element was the stark difference between the two events.

The ASNE folks, who spent four days discussing how to save money, make money, and spend money ? along with actually covering news ? represented the grass roots of the real press world. Sessions at the annual confab stressed everything from anonymous sources to immigration. They also talked newsroom diversity, ethics, and readership. But don't think they avoided fun. Several nighttime gatherings ? including a circus-like party at a nearby club ? filled editors' time.

Not surprisingly, there was more substance to the ASNE convention ? where tangible subjects affecting millions of readers were debated ? than at the correspondents' dinner, where the appearance of an American Idol castoff raised more interest than press values. While the big names in Seattle included former Los Angeles Times Editor John Carroll and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Washington's shindig boasted Alex Trebek and Ben Roethlisberger. Compared to the correspondents' dinner, ASNE was an accounting seminar.

Naturally, ASNE sparked only limited coverage, while the WHCA bash drew major stories in nearly every major metro. This was followed by Web overkill on President Bush's post-dinner routine with an impersonator, and how comedian Stephen Colbert's roast was covered (or not covered).

Yet I would never miss an ASNE gathering. After eight straight years of attendance, I had the routine down pat: The "real news" panels, where substantive issues are discussed; the "gripefests," where people complain about the state of the business; and the "glass half-full" sessions, where some new technology or successful program is promoted. There's also usually one non-newspaper speaker, one old-time newspaper legend, and a pair of parties.

I found it all in Seattle, as expected. Singer Thelma Houston showed up and performed her disco hit at the supper club, while the Mariners' Safeco Field served as a perfect home field (away from home) for a business dinner. But while nearly all editors and publishers were glad to chat with E&P, both Keller and New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. edged away like I had bird flu when approached at registration. "Pinch" actually snubbed me twice, rushing away at the gay reception when I sought insight into his family business.

After four days of this, Washington and the correspondents' dinner were calling. Strangely, the final flight took me to a stop at Houston's Bush Airport, and then on to Reagan National Airport. (About the only thing missing was a cab driver named Cheney.) The next day I was set. The Washington Hilton, known to locals as "The Hinckley" for its ties to Reagan's near- assassination, loomed large as I pulled up Saturday night. After my first-ever "red carpet walk," I ventured to the first of about a dozen pre-dinner soire?s.

The mix of celebrity entertainers and newspeople celebrities was odd, but not surprising given the dinner's growing popularity. Maureen Dowd smiled bright-eyed when told I was from E&P, while David Gregory answered, "Ahh, yes." Valerie Plame, whose plan to attend was first revealed by E&P Online, said jokingly, "So you're the one." Her reply to nearly all my probing questions: "I'm wearing Armani." Elsewhere, at the Newsweek party, George Clooney was more willing to comment than his handler wished.

Once inside the dinner, our little group at Table 73 was a mere speck within the 2,700-person ballroom, with no A-list guests among my seated neighbors. After noshing on salad, I was up and roaming for more photos and comments. As the evening wore on, it appeared that there were as many secret service agents as Hilton wait staff, although the wait staff seemed more dangerous. They loudly ordered guests ? from Wolf Blitzer to New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg ? out of the way while passing with platters of filet mignon.

Bob Scheiffer was glad to turn away from his sea bass to chat, Morgan Fairchild posed for pictures, and Chris Matthews even stood up to shake hands. Then there was Kissinger, who produced a sound byte supporting Bush for my notepad, along with a spray of spit that briefly dampened my cheek.

For someone who's spent 18 years reporting the news, it was a far cry from the firefighters' pancake breakfasts I covered as a rookie reporter at The Daily Journal in Elizabeth, N.J. But then again, I never had to wear a tuxedo to the firehouse.