Access: WaPo Selling Its Assets

Update: Obama's Lewinski?? ha!

Whatever it takes in a bad economy while your business model is tanking?

For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post has offered lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to "those powerful few": Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and — at first — even the paper’s own reporters and editors.

Politics Daily has word on an internal WaPo memo in response. Without the newsroom, much of the value is lost. I guess WaPo wasn't planning on covering it?? ha What a sad joke.

The paper's editor, Marcus Brauchli, responded by sending a memo to all Post employees saying that the language in the flyer advertising the pay-for-play event precluded participation by anyone in the newsroom. (Duh.):

Colleagues,

A flyer was distributed this week offering an "underwriting opportunity" for a dinner on health-care reform, in which the news department had been asked to participate.

The language in the flyer and the description of the event preclude our participation.

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. Our independence from advertisers or sponsors is inviolable.

There is a long tradition of news organizations hosting conferences and events, and we believe The Post, including the newsroom, can do these things in ways that are consistent with our values.

Marcus

Comments

[nina]

confirmed!!!! they r whores

[Steven Den Beste]

Thorough embarassment all around, and now they've cancelled the whole thing.

I bet the guy responsible for it will soon be looking for other employment.

[tim maguire]

Apart from the question of whether it is ethical for the Washington Post to sell access to the President, how is it that they have the type of access that is a marketable commodity, anyway?

Obama's staffers don't work for the Post, do they?

[Dan Riehl]

I think it's the other way around, Tim.

[Chris]

Joe Biden phoned in from Erie, PA and offered $50,000 for a chance to talk face-to-face with influential people within the administration