When I attend conferences, I’m vigilant about removing my badge as I leave the exhibition hall ("You down with OCD? Yeah, you know me!"). Heading out into the public wearing a badge on is a bad idea on many levels.
CNN’s Kyra Phillips learned a hard, related lesson yesterday as it applies to lavaliere microphones. She forgot to turn hers off when she hit the restroom during President Bush’s speech commemorating Katrina.
“So instead of getting the president’s remarks, CNN’s audience got that and Phillips in some girl-chat.” Three minutes worth to be exact.
Hot Air flushes, er, fleshes the story out for us here. It was bad enough that CNN issued a formal apology:
“CNN apologized Tuesday after an open mike transmitted an anchor’s bathroom conversation with another woman live over the network as it was carrying President Bush’s speech in New Orleans.”
Back in the day, this gaffe would only see the light of day if it made it into a bloopers special. Now? Kyra is big blogosphere news less than 24 hours later.
tags | Kyra Phillips | media | CNN | President Bush
To be fair, I don't think it was her fault exactly. As far as I understand, it's more of the switchboard's responsibility to shut off mics.
I'm happy she didn't get fired. It was a simple mistake. Luckily, she didn't say anything too damaging or foul. But she is goingot have an interesting Thanksgiving and holiday season.
Posted by: Owen Lystrup | 09/01/2006 at 12:52 AM