Published August 2, 2010

"You there, the fair and balanced one!" (AP)

Effective today, Fox News gets a front-row seat in the White House press room. The AP got Helen Thomas’ old seat, which left a vacancy. As I wrote Friday, NPR wanted it.

From the White House Correspondents Association website:

It was a very difficult decision. The board received requests from Bloomberg and NPR in addition to Fox for relocation to the front row and felt all three made compelling cases. But the board ultimately was persuaded by Fox’s length of service and commitment to the White House television pool.

“Length of service and commitment?” NPR has covered the White House since 1970. Much longer than Fox, I believe.

NPR moves up to the second row, to take the seat now vacated by Fox.