DRAMATIC, WORLD-CHANGING ELECTION RESULTS – AT 9:06 A.M. ET:  The results of the election we discussed yesterday are now in.  Drumroll please:

In the end, the Associated Press scooped the three news organizations vying for the front-row center seat long held by Helen Thomas, while Fox News won the contest to move up to the front of the room.

While Fox, Bloomberg and NPR submitted letters expressing interest in the seat in the in the James S. Brady Briefing Room that opened up when Thomas retired in June, the White House Correspondents Association voted Sunday to give it to the venerable wire, while Fox moved into AP’s former seat in the front row, and NPR moved into Fox’s second-row seat.

"It was a very difficult decision," the WHCA said in a statement. "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."

COMMENT: We're relieved that the Helen Thomas seat didn't go to NPR, which would have meant replacing one leftist with another.  At least AP pretends to be balanced, although the pretense is too often not matched by the reality.

We're delighted to see Fox in the front row, showing that it gets far more respect from within journalism than you would think from the arrows shot at it by CNN and MSNBC.  Fox does a solid job.  Yes, it tilts right, just as most news outlets tilt left, but its straight-news programs do indeed play it straight.

August 2, 2010