Posted on 07/02/2009 5:46:51 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
WashPost sells access, $25,000+ By: Mike Allen July 2, 2009 08:04 AM EST
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.
The astonishing offer is detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health-care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he feels it’s a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff."
The offer—which essentially turns a news organization into a facilitator for private lobbyist-official encounters—is a new sign of the lengths to which news organizations will go to find revenue at a time when most newspapers are struggling for survival.
And it's a turn of the times that a lobbyist is scolding The Washington Post for its ethical practices.
"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 …
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
The Washington Post has about as much integrity as a D. C. streetwalker. That’s why we call them “presstitutes.”
They're just doing what has always been done—but apparently now for direct payment. Bizarre—
But the day is young.
Ping
Isn’t the bigger issue politicians are available?
Desperate for revenue. They’re dead, Jim.
That's what made my jaw drop here. The WaPo is peddling influence but, let's face it, there aren't many people left in the world who still entertain the quaint notion that the DNC-allied WaPo is in any way a legitimate news organization.
But which Obama administration officials are allowing themselves to be pimped by the WaPo?
Enquiring minds want to know.
~~ Blatant WaPo pimping .... PING!
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S&P Cuts Washington Post Ratings On Publishing Worries - 6-26-09
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090626-715020.html
Excerpt:
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its ratings on Washington Post Co. (WPO) a notch, reflecting the ratings firm’s expectation that losses in newspapers and magazines will hamper results in 2009.
The publisher swung to a first-quarter loss as charges and the advertising slump’s effect on its core newspaper and magazine operations weighed on results. The company’s Kaplan education business, which insulates it from the travails of the media industry, also struggled, suffering a 76% profit drop.
S&P lowered the company’s corporate credit and senior unsecured issue-level ratings to A and removed the ratings from watch for downgrade, but it did issue a negative rating outlook.
The ratings firm had put Washington Post’s ratings on watch for downgrade at the beginning of May.
“We believe total Ebitda in 2009 at Washington Post is likely to decline by about 30%, which is a significantly higher rate of decline than we previously expected, which contributed to our CreditWatch listing several weeks ago,” credit analyst Emile Courtney said.
~~~
Another bailout candidate ?
Wonder what Helen thinks of this?
Jeez Louise!
Does it get any worse than this? It’s an outrage an hour with this administration and his lapdogs in the media! Rush will be all over this today!
Pathetic!
Yes. and I feel sure that Eric Holder will get right on this a prosecute Emanuel and Axelrod the max...Not.
Is she prostituting herself?
Last time I looked, there were only three paper mills left in the U.S. that make newsprint. The vast majority of it comes from Canada, and some from Mexico. Our environmental movement destroyed the industry here.
“In response to requests for comment, The Post issued a statement that stopped short of canceling the event.
Kris Coratti, communications director of Washington Post Media, a division of The Washington Post Company, said: “The flier circulated this morning came out of a business division for conferences and events, and the newsroom was unaware of such communication. It went out before it was properly vetted, and this 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.
“As written, the newsroom could not participate in an event like this. 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. The newsroom will participate where appropriate.”
Brauchli, the executive editor, was named on the flier as one of the “Hosts and Discussion Leaders.”
How much pressure do you think the business division will put on the news room to give “favorable” coverage to those organizations and associations who pony up the $25 to $250 grand? This is, after all, an organization that's hemorrhaging money.
And that's exactly what the suits will tell the news room when they get on their high horse about their “journalistic ethics.” They'll tell them here's the choice: You can have your ethics, or you can have a job. Which is it going to be?
And we all know that somehow those troubled souls down in the news room will find a path to ease their consciences.
The list, ping
I know. There was once a huge International Paper Company mill in Moss Point, MS that employed thousands of locals. It closed several years ago wrecking the economy of that town.
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