Mixed Reaction to National Anthem in Media Filing Room: To Stand or Not to Stand

SIMI VALLEY, California — Most reporters continued to sit while the National Anthem played at the start of the GOP’s presidential primary debate.

Breitbart News captured a video showing most reporters and support staff sitting down, instead of standing as most Americans typically do.

Breitbart News reporters did stand as the National Anthem played through the speakers.

In the past, some journalists have been under fire for texting or working during the singing of the National Anthem, while others have stated that it is a journalist’s job to remain neutral.

For example, a journalist was singled out for texting during the National Anthem in the past at the White House Correspondents Dinner earlier this year.

“On this subject, a recent op-ed by Mark Fitzgerald of Editor & Publisher warns journalists that perception is often truth and that the penchant that journalists have for not standing proudly and patriotically during the National Anthem does not help their image any — good advice that will be roundly ignored by journalists the country over,” noted Warner Todd Hutson in 2008 on this topic.