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 ...
Journalistic prostitution.
Solution....100% sales tax on excess profits, citing this crap as the target.
Major story, especially since it comes from Politico, which is staffed primarily by former WP reporters. I hope the MSM picks it up. Politico has amazing access in Washington. I don’t agree with where they are coming from, but they are a reliable source of news.
If you got it, sell it.
It does provide a new definition for the word Presstitute.
WashPo selling/getting a Lewinsky for $25K.
Windfall taxes for the Com Post!
It is very likely this is as much an idea by Obozo to schmooze with contributors as it is an obvious prostituting journalism ideals by the WaPo.
Wasn’t Obama suggesting newspapers should be considered not-for-profits (tax exempt)?
Today’s journalistic ethics leave a lot to be desired.
So the WashPo is charging for an “evening” with the WashPo editors, writers and influential Obama politicians and aides.
Aside from the fact that this MAKES (by definition!) the WashPo a lobbying organization) you've got to ask, is the money worth it? Since the WashPo is going to do nothing byut repeat the Obama POV, and push the Obama agenda, isn't it cheaper to pay the Obama rep's directly?
By the way, isn't there a law against an administration lackey ATTENDING an affair where access to administration lackies is being “sold”?
Gee, I guess this “we will only sell newspapers to 30% of the population” business model doesn’t work afterall.
Dear Washington Compost,
I have an idea to make you a profitable organization within one year.
TELL THE FREAKING TRUTH!!!!
Regards
A US Citizen.
So they no longer need to even PRETEND they’re not pimping?
Hannity is dead-on right. Journalism as we knew it is indeed dead in America.
In the fine print, it says that law is only enforced against non-RINO Republicans...
“...journalistic ethics...”
The very definition of an oxymoron.
No they no longer have to pretend......the takeover is complete.
They finally realized their business model was off: there’s no money in shilling for the DNC for free. Propaganda costs money and their benefactors should be paying for it.
Ick. Sleeziest thing they have done this morning.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.