Lambeth Coverage

I have attempted to provide the worthwhile coverage of Lambeth here, but I've noticed that most of the coverage thus far is weak. Given the clamp down on press contact with the conference participants and the conference design (i.e. Indaba groups) it isn't any wonder that frightfully little has come out about the meetings. Ruth Gledhill and David Virtue with their contacts and VirtueOnline have been able to ferret out a few news nuggets along the way and the Archbishop of the Sudan certainly made a splash with his non-official statement and press briefing.

Even so, most of the non-professional Lambeth coverage reminds me of the announcers at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They don't have much to say except to comment on the colorful characters, the weather, and the hometowns (or in this case, countries) of the participants. The coverage to this point is mostly pointless although it is replete with the obligatory celebrity interviews. This conference was designed to be as non-controversial and decisionless as possible, but it is a shame that so little substantive reporting is happening on what is going on inside. Is this a reflection of little substantive action happening or is it a reflection on the success of the tight rein on participant availability to the media?