Weymouth: WaPo launches internal review (WaPoGate - Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Politico.com ^ | July 6, 2009 | Michael Calderone

[abb]

Following her letter to reader's yesterday, Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth informed staff this afternoon, in a memo obtained by POLITICO, that general counsel Eric Lieberman will "review recent events to make sure that our business processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our journalism."

Weymouth also said that executive editor Marcus Brauchli and senior editor Milton Coleman will "codify parameters for Post newsroom participation in live events."

Brauchli told POLITICO Thursday that the a controversial flier publicizing a July 21 event at Weymouth's house ignored the parameters laid out by the newsroom. According to the flier sent to lobbyists, attendees spending at least $25,000 could get an off-the-record meeting with the Post's publisher, editor, health care reporters and Obama administration officials.

Full memo after the jump.

All:

I hope you had a chance to read my letter in Sunday’s paper. I wanted to let you know that I’ve asked Eric Lieberman, our General Counsel, to review recent events to make sure that our business processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our journalism. Simultaneously, I've asked Marcus and Milton Coleman to codify parameters for Post newsroom participation in live events. As we continue to pursue new and promising lines of business, these measures should help us conduct our business activities effectively and appropriately.

Katharine

[abb]

Credit is due to FReeper maggief for coining the term "WaPoGate." It works.

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/not_just_wapo_atlantics_corporate-sponsored_salons.php
Not Just WaPo: Atlantic’s Corporate-Sponsored “Salons” Tout “Private Conversations” With Top Journos, Lawmakers

http://medianation.blogspot.com/2009/07/slideshow-for-dowd-plagiarism.html
Slideshow for Dowd plagiarism discussion

[Kansas58]

How about we get someone in Congress to propose a TAX!

A TAX on NEWSPRINT!

Whereas the production of newspapers causes trees to be cut down, hauled by polluting trucks to polluting paper mills, and hauled from paper mills to publishers and

Whereas the production of newspapers requires toxic ink and solvents and energy wasting machinery and

Whereas the distribution of newspapers requires the use of dirty internal combustion engines and

Whereas a large portion of every landfill is used for discarded newspapers,

Therefore:

Be it resolved that a Newsprint tax, of $1,000.00 per pound, be charged to EVERY newspaper with a daily subscription, within the United States!
________________________________________
We should get some Republican to propose THIS as an amendment to any “cap and trade” or “carbon tax” proposal that comes up!
Maybe we can make it like “Cap and Trade” and use the revenue generated, from this tax on dirty dinosaur newspapers, to subsidize a tax credit for home computers and digital devices?
Or, we could use the money to subsidize talk radio! Well, those guys really don’t need any help!

[spald]

This is like Hitler formally asking Hans Frank, the Governor of occupied Poland, whether it’s OK to start gassing Jews.

[Carley]

ComPooGate

[abb]

http://www.theawl.com/2009/07/what-are-the-right-and-wrong-ways-to-get-access-to-the-washington-post
What Are the Right and Wrong Ways to Get Access to the Washington Post?

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/media_events/before_the_scandal_wapo_publisher_weymouth_talked_new_revenue_streams_at_aspen_ideas_fest_120816.asp
Before The Scandal, WaPo Publisher Weymouth Talked New Revenue Streams At Aspen Ideas Fest

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/07/06/lets-lay-off-the-washington-post-already/
Let’s lay off the Washington Post already

[abb]

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/06/what-katharine-weymouth-doesnt-know-about-jurassic-journalism/
What Katharine Weymouth Doesn’t Know about Jurassic Journalism

http://harpers.org/archive/2009/07/hbc-90005300
Other Pay-to-Play Schemes at the Washington Post?

[Zakeet]

Katharine Weymouth informed staff ... that general counsel Eric Lieberman will "review recent events to make sure that our business processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our journalism."

This is hogwash.

Katharine Bouchage Weymouth is a graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford Law School. As such, it is logical to assume she knew exactly what she was doing when she planned her money for access party.

Katharine is also Katharine Graham's granddaughter (and namesake). Her family owns the ComPost. As such, like Pinch Sultzberger at the NY Times, she will not face any disciplinary proceedings for her actions.

Finally, the term "compromise our journalism" is meaningless since it presumes there is something of value and some applicable standards of excellence which can, in fact, be compromised.

As a result, I read her whole statement as, "I'm sorry I got caught. Next time, I'll be more careful. But I will never, ever, relinquish the power of my news rag to influence government to adopt my liberal agenda."

[tobyhill]

I just want to know which Officials in Obama’s White House had agreed to attend.

[Jackson57]

I’m sure this “internal review” will return with findings that there was no wrong doing. Much like the Obama campaign reviewing it’s own fundraising activities ... “we did nothing wrong ... “.

[Jackson57]

You’re absolutely right!! THAT’S the important question. We know the media is in the backpocket of Obama, but who in the administration is in bed with the media? And do they have to declare the money earned. AND is the money earned while on government time?

[StAnDeliver]

Katherine -- you're still a Media Whore.

[abb]

AFAIK, these are the only two government officials who have been named.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-washington-post3-2009jul03,0,639509.story

Rep. Jim Cooper’s office said the Tennessee Democrat received an invitation this week to attend a dinner on July 21 at the house of Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, a Maine Republican, was also among those asked to attend.

[Malesherbes]

Oh darn! I had so looked forward to buying access to the WaPo.

[abb]

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/new-rules-times-company-cellphones
New Rules for Times Company Cell Phones

[abb]

Oh darn! I had so looked forward to buying access to the WaPo.

Myself. I was only going to pay for a nooner. Wonder what that would go for?

[Billthedrill]

I confess I haven't the slightest idea of what basis Weymouth could possibly deny what was clearly being advertised. Access to these salons - there were to be eleven of them - was package-priced at $250,000, for which a "sponsor" could send two participants. Individual salons were to be priced at $25,000 (buy 10, get one free!). What that money purchased was a sit-down with influential policy-makers and journalists, if there is a distinction.

How that could be considered anything other than selling access to power absolutely baffles me. It is certainly a presence beyond the means of ordinary citizens. Weymouth's impassioned insistence that it isn't what it looks like is simply not the case - it is what it looks like.

What is most curious about the affair is her equally impassioned insistence that this, or something like it, is common practice in other organizations similar to hers. I'd love to know just how extensive that is. Perhaps an enterprising journalist might find that a proper subject for investigative journalism. It might be Pulitzer material, but he or she could count on never attending one of these affairs again themselves. That may be why no one has.

[abb]

The State-Run Media and the Political Class have been doing this dance forever, to one degree or another. It happens in every county and city in America with the local media and the local Power Structure.

Instead of ‘Salons,’ the locals use their churches and country clubs to access power.

[iopscusa]

Stop, Listen, What’s that sound...every comment @ Politico regarding this WaPo article was very negative about the paper and their love affair with the little dicktator!

[Liberty Valance]

Pay for play is what your advertising dept. rate card is for Mrs. Weymouth. NOT your newsroom!

[RJL]

Weymouth: WaPo launches internal review

I'm sure that they are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to find and punish those who let out the truth about their little soirees for the hard lefties.

[Billthedrill]

Yes, but this is, I think, unusually blatant. It’s the difference between a discreet escort service and a streetwalker with a coin changer on her belt. They’re the same thing under the skin but only one of them does jail time.

[GOPJ]

Katharine Bouchage Weymouth is a graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford Law School. As such, it is logical to assume she knew exactly what she was doing when she planned her money for access party.

Bernie Madoff and family want to call in a lawyer to find out if stealing other peoples money is ethical or not... they need the issue cleared up before anyone thinks badly of them... ( anyone dumb enough to believe this one - will also believe Weymouth...)

[SeattleBruce]

“As a result, I read her whole statement as, “I’m sorry I got caught. Next time, I’ll be more careful. But I will never, ever, relinquish the power of my news rag to influence government to adopt my liberal agenda.”
++++++++++++

Thank you for clarifying - this is exactly how we need to interpret every, single liberal statement we ever read. We need to get really good at putting our liberal decoder rings on and basically discounting their hogwash to the meaningless drivel it truly is.

[SunkenCiv]

Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth informed staff this afternoon, in a memo obtained by POLITICO, that general counsel Eric Lieberman will "review recent events to make sure that our business processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our journalism." Weymouth also said that executive editor Marcus Brauchli and senior editor Milton Coleman will "codify parameters for Post newsroom participation in live events."

"Oops! What I meant to say was, 'make sure that our journalism processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our shilling for Obama, the Democratic Party, and more generally the left, particularly the foreign left.'"

[SeattleBruce]

“I’m sure this “internal review” will return with findings that there was no wrong doing. Much like the Obama campaign reviewing it’s own fundraising activities ... “we did nothing wrong ... “.
+++++++++++

Those ‘internal reviews’ are the biggest crockful of crap - built to buy them time, so this will wash ashore into the sea of next sound bites...the enemedia dinosaurs cannot die quickly enough...looking for zero’s next ‘bailout’...let’s jump their gun on that one...

At least, finally, the American people, such as we are, are no longer in the mood for any (more) bailouts...

[SeattleBruce]

Oh, how sweet it is...all of this insane liberalism and not $1.49 left over to use 411...lol!! The poor liberals...not!

[Luke21]

“This is like Hitler formally asking Hans Frank, the Governor of occupied Poland, whether it’s OK to start gassing Jews.”

Himmler told Heydrich the internal investigation showed no wrong doing whatsoever. But the mistake was in allowing the affair to become too public.

[SeattleBruce]

“Individual salons were to be priced at $25,000 (buy 10, get one free!).”
++++++++

LOL!

****************

“Perhaps an enterprising journalist might find that a proper subject for investigative journalism.”
++++++++

Sorry, none of these left in the MSM. The MSM does not practice journalism. The MSM is dead.

[SeattleBruce]

“But the mistake was in allowing the affair to become too public.”
+++++++++++

Right now the libtards are so drunk with power, there’s going to be a lot of these affairs becoming too public...question is, how will we handle the information -what will we do with it...?

[SeattleBruce]

It's hilarious - almost every single post on Politico is anti-WaPo - oh, it's fun to watch the sick ol’ liberals squirm around...as they die and ignominious death..

[w1andsodidwe]

We would need to calculate the amount of newsprint used to line bird cages, for puppies to pee on, etc and exclude those newsprint from the tax.

Come to think of it, if we exclude those uses, then there is no need for a printed newspaper.

[cranked]

“internal review”?

What a pathetic attempt at a joke....

[Liz]

........which Officials in Obama’s White House had agreed to attend............

Rahm Emanuel was scheduled to attend, attired in a scoop-necked leotard.

For $25,000, the Wash/Po was going to let attendees watch several muscle-bound construction workers manhandle Rahm Emanuel.

"O-o-o-o-o, I can't wait.

[Loyal Buckeye]

I’m sure some Freepers would do the review at no cost to the compost and the report would be fair and square.

[Colonel_Flagg]

I wanted to let you know that I’ve asked Eric Lieberman, our General Counsel, to review recent events to make sure that our business processes are consistent with, and will not in any way compromise, our journalism.

What compromises their journalism is blatant liberal bias. Business practices are merely ancillary to the cancer that infects their reportage.

[Psycho_Bunny]

"I confess I haven't the slightest idea of what basis Weymouth could possibly deny what was clearly being advertised"

Same basis as these jerkoffs always use: Rules are for the little people.

[Raycpa]

$3,050 was given by people who identified their last name as “Lieberman” and first name as “Eric”.
$0 to Republicans
$3,050 from 2 people to Democrats
Donor
Contribution
Address
Eric Lieberman
Donation of $1,200 to Presidential elections 2008
Democrat
Eric Lieberman
Musician
Self employed
Updated
Q3/2008
Barack Obama
$1,200
6139 CHARAE ST
San Diego CA
Eric Lieberman
Donation of $750 to Presidential elections 2008
Democrat
Eric Lieberman
Attorney
RBSKL
Updated
Q3/2008
Barack Obama
$750
280 RIVERSIDE DR
New York NY
Eric Lieberman
Donation of $600 to Presidential elections 2008
Democrat
Eric Lieberman
Attorney
Self employed
Updated
Q2/2008
Barack Obama
$600
2068 W FARWELL AVE
Chicago IL
Erica Lieberman
Donation of $500 to Presidential elections 2004
Democrat
Erica Lieberman
Advertising
Digitas
Updated
Q1/2004
John Kerry
$500
10 WILLARD ST
Waltham MA

[Raycpa]

ERIC LIEBERMAN Vice President and General Counsel, Washington Post Eric Lieberman is the General Counsel for The Washington Post. He has worked for The Post since 1998. In addition to reviewing Post articles prior to publication, Lieberman has focused on helping journalists gain access to public records. He also makes sure that Post reporters maintained the promises of confidentiality made to their sources and avoided a confrontation with the federal courts and the special prosecutor. He works with other media organizations to press Congress for a “shield law” that would provide reporters with a qualified right not to identify confidential sources in federal court proceedings. Before joining The Post, Lieberman was an associate at Williams & Connolly where he represented clients in both civil and criminal matters. He graduated from Harvard College and Duke Law School, where he was the Administrative Editor of Law & Contemporary Problems. Following law school, he clerked for Chief Judge James L. Oakes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Lieberman has also served on the boards of the of the Maryland‐Delaware‐District of Columbia Press Association, the Virginia Press Association, the Council for Court Excellence, the D.C. Legal Aid Society and the Court‐Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program of Montgomery County, http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/EricLiebermanBio.pdf

[pabianice]

Turd, meet Polishing Rag. (Good luck!)

[SnuffaBolshevik]

I was only going to pay for a nooner.

Make sure you wear your raincoat.

[iowamark]

Katharine is not a bad looker and she is filthy rich, or at least she used to be. Haha!

[abb]

Katharine is not a bad looker and she is filthy rich, or at least she used to be. Haha!

Yes, she has that come-hither "trailer trash" look in that pic, doncha think? Bill Clinton would hit that in a New York minute.