Information AboutGreg Packer |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT GREG PACKER | |
| living people | |
| packer, greg | |
| people from long island | |
| media people | |
|
Greg Packer (born Circa 1964), an American Highway maintenance worker from Huntington, New York , has been quoted in more than 100 articles and television broadcasts as a member of the public (that is, a person on the street rather than a newsmaker or expert). Packer's status as a frequent interviewee came about due to his hobby of attending public appearances of , Bill Clinton , and George W. Bush . [http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-07-07/632.asp His run in the press seems to have started with a quotation in ''The Tampa Tribune'' of 6 October 1995, : "The Jewish people are fans of Pope John Paul II," said Greg Packer of Huntington, N.J. "He doesn't limit his message to one faith; he reaches out to everybody." The Tribune got the state wrong, but it is virtually certain this is Packer's first newspaper appearance. According to a 2002 article about Packer, "He was first in the line to see ground zero when the viewing platform opened at the World Trade Center Site December 30 Due to Packer's appearances at these media events, he came to be quoted by reporters attending the events. Unlike many attendees, Packer was willing to be quoted: as he explained in 2004, "I always come up with an answer for everything, number one. And ... I always give everybody ... the respect and the time that they need." His quotes ranged from the expression of common sentiments, such as "It's a day for happiness and to be together," regarding a St. Patrick's Day parade to colorful statements such as his opinion of a New York Yankees game played on Yom Kippur : "There's no way the Yankees will lose, but if they do, they'll certainly have something to atone for." [http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_051305_man.html In June 2003, columnist Ann Coulter and blogger Mickey Kaus , commenting on media coverage of Hillary Rodham Clinton 's memoir ''Living History'', noted that Packer was "the centerpiece of The New York Times ' 'man on the street' interview about Hillary-mania." Packer had been quoted in the ''Times'' as stating, "I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign." Coulter pointed out: :It was easy for the Times to spell Packer's name right because he is apparently the entire media's designated "man on the street" for all articles ever written. He has appeared in news stories more than 100 times as a random member of the public. Packer was quoted on his reaction to military strikes against Iraq ; he was quoted at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Veterans Day Parade. He was quoted at not one -- but two -- New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square . He was quoted at the opening of a new " Star Wars " movie, at the opening of an H&M clothing store on Fifth Avenue and at the opening of the viewing stand at Ground Zero. He has been quoted at Yankees games, Mets games, Jets games -- even getting tickets for the Brooklyn Cyclones . He was quoted at a Clinton fund-raiser at Alec Baldwin 's house in the Hamptons and the Pope's visit to Giants Stadium . {Link without Title} The "more than 100" Packer appearances included quotes in the '' New York Post '', '' Los Angeles Times '', '' The Philadelphia Inquirer '', and '' The Times '', as well as appearances on CNN , MSNBC , and Fox . {Link without Title} As a result of Coulter's column, Packer was profiled in his own right by the New York Times. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70E15F83F5C0C768DDDAF0894DB404482&incamp=archive:search] The search turned up 100 mentions in various publications. ... Mr. Packer is clearly eager to be quoted. Let's be eager, too -- to find other people to quote." [http://web.archive.org/web/20031011085303/www.poynter.org/forum/default.asp?id=Memos&DGPCrSrt=&DGPCrPg=3] After the ubiquity of Packer's quotes became public, he was still quoted and referred to occasionally, but sometimes with more disclosure of his identity provided. When Bill Clinton began his book tour for his memoir ''My Life'', Packer was first in line for Clinton's first signing; a 2004 New York Times article on Clinton's appearance referred to Packer as "Greg Packer, 40, wearing a New York Yankees shirt, who has been cultivating the press for several years now and manages to attend at least two news events a week." {Link without Title} Nevertheless, not all journalists include such disclaimers; an EpochTimes.com article in 2005 on the release of the novel '' victory rally for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006, the '' Pittsburgh Tribune-Review '' identified him only as "Greg Packer, 42, a lifelong Steelers fan from Huntington, N.Y." {Link without Title} |
|
|