According to Raw Story, Garrett Graff–contributing editor for Washington media blog FishBowlDC--will make history as “the first known blogger to be admitted to the White House press corps.” Graff has apparently been trying to get a day pass for some time.

Here’s Graff’s announcement:

Just received official word from the White House Press Office: Fishbowl D.C. will be cleared to attend Monday’s press briefing.

Special thanks to all the “real” reporters who offered help this week, along with all the tips and suggestions from readers. Thanks also to Jenny, Caroline, and John in Media Affairs for putting up with our annoying calls.

Let the White House blogging begin…

Smart move. Shouldn’t have taken as long as it did.

Update: Matt Margolis weighs in. So does Shane Raynor, who writes:

Just think- a gossip blogger will make history as the first blogger at a White House press conference- and it isn’t Wonkette. I’m betting that this news frosts more than one member of the traditional media establishment, considering the fact that their antics are Graff’s biggest source of blog fodder.

Steve at Secure Liberty adds:

The only reason I can see that more bloggers haven’t tried this is that most of us have jobs preventing us from hanging around the White House press room.

Bob at Civil Commotion has a good question.

Update: New York Times article here. An excerpt:

Increasingly, bloggers are penetrating the preserves of the mainstream news media. They have secured seats on campaign planes, at political conventions and in presidential debates, and have become a driving force in news events themselves.

Mr. Graff said he was inspired to try to seek access to the White House by the controversy over James D. Guckert, who used the alias Jeff Gannon. Mr. Guckert was granted daily passes to White House briefings while writing for a Web site run by a Republican operative in Texas. The episode raised questions about who was a legitimate journalist and how access to the White House was granted.

White House press officials and others said it was relatively easy to get a day pass, prompting Mr. Graff to test that premise. He set about trying to get one and chronicled his attempt on his blog.

He made 20 phone calls and got nowhere. Bigger blogs picked up on his saga, and traffic on FishbowlDC increased tenfold, he said. But it was not until the traditional media joined in, Mr. Graff said, that the White House relented.

Update II: Thomas Lifson at the wonderful American Thinker has a dissenting take.

Update III: The Political Teen has video of Graff on MSNBC.

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