Washington Post: Power broker

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Mike Keliher

Politico reports:

For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post is offering lobbyists and association executives off the record, non-confrontational access to “those powerful few” — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and the paper’s own reporters and editors.

As you read more, it seems less “holy shit I can’t believe they’re doing this” but still a bit shady. I understand news organizations need to try new things to make money, but does this cross the line?

Hat tip to my friend Mark Palony for pointing this story out to me this morning.

Filed under: Ethics, Journalism, Politics | Tagged: , ,

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8 Responses

  1. Mike Keliher (mjkeliher) « Washington Post: Power broker « THE SAME ROWDY CROWD « Chat Catcher, on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 am Said:

    [...] 2009-07-02T06:44:52  @andrew_graham Feel free to weigh in here. Curious to dig deeper into the WaPo story. [link to post] [...]

    Reply
  2. Andrew Graham, on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 am Said:

    It’s a horrible idea. The issue here isn’t that the company hosts conferences – many news organizations have conference arms – but that they’re proudly adding the editorial staff into the mix.

    Dan Abrams’ firm, Abrams Research, boasts of similar access to working journalists, and it’s been roundly labeled as unethical for it. But Abrams Research is a public-relations – err, “media strategy” – firm. WaPo’s offer isn’t any different at all.

    Reply
  3. Ike Pigott, on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am Said:

    Andrew, WaPo’s offer categorically worse because it’s the Company Store.

    Reply
  4. J Abramoff, on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm Said:

    This merely formalizes earlier practices of WaPo. Before, I didn’t know where to send my checks. Now I know.

    Reply
  6. MM, on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm Said:

    For $250K Weymouth better throw in a “happy ending.” Doesn’t the Bunny Ranch also offer salon sessions?

    Reply
  7. PM, on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm Said:

    Wonder which guests were paying and which were paid?

    Reply
  8. WaPo Reader, on July 7th, 2009 at 7:52 am Said:

    Re: http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0709/Weymouth_WaPo_launches_internal_review.html

    Most amusing: Publisher Katharine Weymouth, who feigned surprise and outrage at news of WaPo’s salon nights, clearly knew of everything weeks earlier, according to this internal memo. In fact, the political prostitution events were to be held in her own home.

    Now she has the audacity to launch an “internal review” and impose “codified parameters for Post newsroom participation in live events.”

    Sorry honey, but you got busted. Your editor clearly knew and consented to this practice, as well.

    Now the whole world knows exactly how you perceive your newspaper’s role in society. Too late.

    Reply

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