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Washington Post Sells Access to Obama Admin, Reporters: $25,000+
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by cyn.khoo | July 2, 2009 at 09:30 am
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The Washington Post is selling lobbyists and others "access" to purported key Obama officials and even the paper's own reporters and editors, Politico reported Thursday, July 2.
A flier was circulated advertising "Washington Post Salons", guaranteeing off-record, "non-confrontational" meetings between lobbyists and executives, and members of Congress and the Obama administration along with (initially) reporters and editors from the Post. The sessions would cost participants anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000.
The first "salon" is to be held July 21 at the home of Katharine Weymouth, CEO and Publisher of the Washington Post.
Post communications director Kris Coratti released a statement saying the newsroom was "unaware of such communication" and that the flier was released before being "properly vetted".
[T]his draft does not represent what the company’s vision for these dinners are, which is meant to be an independent, policy-oriented event for newsmakers. [...] We do believe there is an opportunity to have a conferences and events business, and that The Post should be leading these conversations in Washington, big or small, while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Marcus Brauchli, executive editor of the Post, sent a newsroom-wide email affirming the newsroom's necessary exclusion from such an endeavor.
"We will not participate in events where promises are made that in exchange for money The Post will offer access to newsroom personnel or will refrain from confrontational questioning.
The story broke when a health care lobbyist received the flier and showed it to a reporter, questioning the ethics and conflict of interest involved in the Washington Post embarking on such an initiative.
[T]he lobbyist said he felt it was a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff."
Excerpts from the circulated flier follow below.
"Underwriting Opportunity: An evening with the right people can alter the debate," says the one-page flier. "Underwrite and participate in this intimate and exclusive Washington Post Salon, an off-the-record dinner and discussion at the home of CEO and Publisher Katharine Weymouth. ... Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table. Interact with key Obama administration and congressional leaders." [...]
The flier says: “Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No. The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it. What is guaranteed is a collegial evening, with Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds typically on the guest list of 20 or less."
“Offered at $25,000 per sponsor, per Salon. Maximum of two sponsors per Salon. Underwriters’ CEO or Executive Director participates in the discussion. Underwriters appreciatively acknowledged in printed invitations and at the dinner. Annual series sponsorship of 11 Salons offered at $250,000 … Hosts and Discussion Leaders ... Health-care reporting and editorial staff members of The Washington Post ... An exclusive opportunity to participate in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done. ... A Washington Post Salon ... July 21, 2009 6:30 p.m. ...
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Roy C
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 09:47 on July 2nd, 2009
Freedom of the Press you say? Yea for 25,000 bucks. Thanks for this article. The need to remind everyone that when a group of people think the Messiah has arrived run in the other direction before it is too late. If the deal looks to good is just maybe too good to be true.
Where are we going with all this?