Posted on 03/05/2009 6:07:40 AM PST by Mobile Vulgus
Want to know the sordid details of how the press sucks up to staffers at the White House? According to Politico's Michael Calderone it is via a "beat sweetener" article, a concept well known in Old Media circles. A "beat sweetener" is an article meant to flatter a White House staffer so that said reporter might find easier access to the inside stuff later on.
Calderone's piece is an interesting glimpse into the world of Washington political reporters and it isn't one that builds much confidence among us, the readers. Perhaps, like a magician revealing his tricks, Calderone might find a few of his colleagues being a bit miffed at the spotlight he shines on this less than edifying practice.
After detailing some of the glowing terms that reporters have ladled out to Obama staffers, Calderone introduces us to the practice...
Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...
Not just an Obama thing. It’s happened in administrations since who knows when. Certainly happened in Lincoln’s time.
Yes, I recall back in Clinton’s day there was a mini-scandal akin to this practice. Seems the Clinton Admin wanted a Mass. representative (a Republican to boot) to vote in favor of some bill. ALLEGEDLY the Clinton aide told the Rep that if he’d vote for some bill, then Tom Oliphant would write an article favorable to to him, and if he voted for 2 other bills, Oliphant had agreed to write a series of articles just in time for the next election. But when the Rep made it public, Oliphant whined from the ivory towers of the Globe it was not so. It brewed for a couple weeks, and eventually the whole matter was dropped.
Oh come on, Politico! So Washington media types are being kind to the White House just so they can get in good with the right people? BULLSHTEIN! Washington media people are like minded, left-wing, America hating thugs, no different from the brownshirt minions of the administration those MSM phonies worked 24/7 to elect! There. Now your article has been corrected for HONESTY!
“beat-your-meat sweetener”
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