Actually what I was saying was not that “I need to have it first” is what they’ll fight over (not that anyone would turn down a scoop!) but rather “give it to us all so that we all have a fair chance to go live with it at the same time,” which means print sometimes needs to let broadcasters have a chance to set up equipment before anyone gets the info.
For a pool situation, there usually is a process governed by the press corps itself for determining who serves as the designated camera person, videographer and/or reporter. I don’t entirely understand what the palace means with the term “self-selected,” unless they mean they asked the American networks to decide among themselves who to send in as their video guy. And I’m not really clear if they are saying the CBS videographer is in addition to the one in the UK pool or that CBS is providing pool service instead of a UK guy. If it’s doubling up, that doesn’t make sense, but if it’s replacing I would be pretty peeved if I were a RR.
ETA: It just occurred to me that this might be a sign that they’re planning to address the baby’s citizenship, and that they anticipate that the British and American press will have different, necessary questions to ask about it. FYI, videographers often cover a portion of a story without a reporter in tow, so they are just as ready to ask questions as any other journalist.
