USDE: Communication Breakdowns At The USDE

Education reporters have long made fun of (or complained about) the long history of mishaps from the USDE communications office -- especially email announcements that included mis-spelled words or that were "recalled" moments later. It took a few weeks for any such fumbles to show up under the new Administration, but this week there were a couple of flubs.  

First, no one at the USDE notified education reporters that the President was making a major education speech.  The White House sent out notice, but few education reporters are on that list.  Then, pretty much the same thing happened when Arne Duncan was scheduled to do a presser the following day, to amplify and explain the Obama speech. 

Minor stuff, to be sure.  And typical, too -- the USDE and White House press offices have never been particularly well-coordinated.  But it's amazing that, in 2009, there's not even a dedicated education media list at the White House -- you get ALL the announcements from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or you get nothing.