Posted on 07/05/2009 3:11:51 AM PDT by abb
I want to apologize for a planned new venture that went off track and for any cause we may have given you to doubt our independence and integrity. A flier distributed last week suggested that we were selling access to power brokers in Washington through dinners that were to take place at my home. The flier was not approved by me or newsroom editors, and it did not accurately reflect what we had in mind. But let me be clear: The flier was not the only problem. Our mistake was to suggest that we would hold and participate in an off-the-record dinner with journalists and power brokers paid for by a sponsor. We will not organize such events. As publisher it is my job to ensure that we adhere to standards that are consistent with our integrity as a news organization. Last week, I let you, and the organization, down. The Washington Post remains committed, now and always, to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Nothing is more important to us than that, and nothing will shake that commitment.
So what happened? Like other media companies, The Post hosts conferences and live events that bring together journalists, government officials and other leaders for discussions of important topics. These events make news and inform their audiences. We had planned to extend this business to include smaller gatherings, a practice that has become common at other media companies.
From the outset, we laid down firm parameters to ensure that these events would be consistent with The Post's values. If the events were to be sponsored by other companies, everything would be at arm's length -- sponsors would have no control over the content of the discussions, and no special access to our journalists.
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
ping
Selling? Nah...
It was a rent-to-own deal!
I’m only sorry I got caught!
Katherine....you’re a damned liar.
theres no doubt, we’re knows you guys lack any independence and integrity
Textbook behavior of a cornered rat.
http://bloggerinterrupted.com/2009/07/connies-sunday-column-deploys-army-of-strawmen
Connie’s Sunday column deploys army of strawmen
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/49971882.html
THOMAS MITCHELL: Saving the media pros from the Web parasites
http://industry.bnet.com/media/10002943/the-bleeding-edge-of-media-business-models/
The Bleeding Edge of Media Business Models
http://www.mobilefun.ws/geeks-vs-journalists-a-tale-of-two-worldviews/
Geeks vs. journalists: A tale of two worldviews
http://karendecoster.com/?p=4344
Posner : Put the Kibosh on the Internet
http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2009/07/idea_that_would_help_save_news.html
Idea that would help save newspapers makes bloggers howl
This was a criminal conspiracy to peddle influence, undertaken by people too stupid to plan a liquor store hold-up.
Remember this brain-dead plan the next time someone on the left calls a conservative stupid.
Democratic game plan-personal destruction,voter fraud and
ballot re-counting and power grabbing!
Republican game plan-NONE!
Her MeeMaw (Katherine Graham) patented this stuff years ago when she was publisher of the WaPo.
Not to mention that the publisher of the Washington Compost is - in this pathetic mea culpa - officially calling the paper’s sources “power brokers.”
Which means Katherine Weymouth considers that term a legitimate job description.
There’s something strange about the publisher of an alleged top-tier newspaper officially characterizing people in that manner.
Which means that this is how publisher Katherine Weymouth actually does perceive these people. Who were to hold court (a “salon”) in her own home. For a fee.
Which clearly means that it was her idea.
Well, if that's true, it's a big stinkin' apology.
And that's a bit stinkin' "if."
The whole thing stinks of backroom deals, newspaper-guided news, and politicians basking in Romanesque hosting -- and this is presented as the way things are usually done.
It's still going to happen, obviously. It'll just be back "on track" -- under the radar.
Flier or flyer ?
“I’m shocked, shocked to find out that there is a dinner for rich lobbyists and government hacks scheduled for my home in two weeks.”
Sure, Katherine, we know a D.C. media lapdog for the Democrat party wouldn’t lie to us. (Do they know how ridiculous they are?)
Here are your winnings, sir.
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