The Atlantic And Salon Dinners: Thoughts From The Boss (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The Atlantic ^ | July 6, 2009 | Marc Ambinder

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The first reaction of every journalist to the story of the Washington Post's advertiser-cum-salon dinner proposal was probably one of disgust and moral superiority.

The second reaction: we've all kinda been involved in situations where that line between what we do and how we are compensated for it blurs a bit -- or is at least visible. We bring attention to our brand by reporting and writing, but we do other things, occasionally, to further the interests of the commercial enterprises that pay us. There but for the grace of our marketing department go we....Reporters often give speeches to private corporations and get paid for doing so; reporters often lend themselves to their publication's advertising team for an hour and brief a perspective client on our subjects; we invite sources to come visit the classes we teach as adjunct, for-profit professors, etc. We participate in sponsored dinners, off-the-record dinners; roundtables; we exchange information with our sources, etc.; Each situation is different, and as a general rule, good journalists have a good gut sense about what's right and wrong.

There are no written rules for our profession, only habits and customs, enforceable mostly by peer pressure and shaming. Big deal or not, it's a topic worth exploring in an age of convergence. Atlantic Media and its chairman -- my ultimate boss -- David Bradley -- have developed a bit of a (welcome, I think) reputation for hosting salons and forums where advertisers, officials and journalists intermix. We ought not be afraid to talk about why we do them, and so I'm happy to say that Mr. Bradley feels the same way.

After the jump, read extended excerpts from an e-mail he sent to employees today. It describes precisely what the Atlantic does, and why.

snip

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The real question is impossible to answer honestly - do these affairs result in changes in policy?

Actually, the question is quite easily answered. Lobbyists of all description for all sorts of causes spend untold billions to influence policy at all levels of government. Is this money being spent for fun or because it buys influence?

You know the answer.

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http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/07/07/room_to_breathe/
Room to breathe (Boston Globe for sale but no buyers)

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/second_wapo_doc_offers_more_info_on_salons.php
Second WaPo Doc Offers More Info On Salons

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec09/payforchat_07-06.html
Washington Post Under Fire Over Pay-for-access Plan

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/07/wapo-ombud-nothing-to-see-here-move-along/
WaPo Ombud: Nothing to see here, move along

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0709/WaPo_flier_wasnt_only_salon_offer_.html?showall
WaPo flier wasn’t only ‘salon’ offer

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/07/the_dc_alon_circuit.php
The DC $alon Circuit

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0709/WaPo_brass_talk_salons_with_staffers.html
WaPo brass talk ‘salons’ with staffers

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/atlantic_publisher_on_salons_i_didnt_read_the_mark.php
Atlantic Publisher On “Salons”: I Didn’t Read The Marketing Materials Either

http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/07/07/how-the-msm-rolls/
How The MSM Rolls …

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http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2009/07/a_frank_discuss.php
A frank discussion about Twin Cities media

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/06/20090706pressroom0706.html
Senate plans to close Capitol’s press room

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http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003991434
Tribune Still Working on Second Deal for Cubs?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003991459
Journal Register Co. Clears Hurdle to Emerge from Bankruptcy