Bloomberg News is fighting with Fox News for the right to take the front-row seat at White House press conferences recently vacated by the retired Helen Thomas, reports Michael Calderone of Yahoo.

Calderone writes, “Sammon also argued that Bloomberg is a bad choice for the seat because it is a ‘financial niche news outlet.’

“Hunt took issue with that characterization and called it ’sadly out of date’ and cited recent expansions by the organization and its global reach through Bloomberg’s financial terminals, the newly acquired Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the Web, and Bloomberg TV.

“‘We don’t believe the seat should be awarded on the basis of seniority, ideology, tradition (it has been occupied mainly by the wire service) or discussions held three years ago; it’s not something to be conferred,’ Hunt wrote. ‘It should be on merit, the journalistic contribution that the occupant of that valued seat will make to the briefings and to informing the public.’

“‘The Fox assertions are riddled with contradictions,’ Hunt wrote. ‘They cite seniority as a guiding principle in the 2007 decision and in their claim today. Bloomberg started covering the White House full time before Fox News existed.’”

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