Washington Post Cancels Lobbyist Event

Politico: Amid Uproar, Newspaper Scraps Plans For "Salon" Where Lobbyists Could Pay $25K To Talk With Reporters, Officials

(The Politico)  This story was written by Mike Allen.

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Washington Post Publisher and Chief Executive Officer Katharine Weymouth said today she was cancelling plans for an exclusive "salon" at her home where, for as much as $250,000, the Post offered lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to "those powerful few": Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and even the paper’s own reporters and editors. 

The astonishing offer was detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he felt it was a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff." 

With the newsroom in an uproar after POLITICO reported the solicitation, Weymouth and Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli both said they were not aware of the flier. 

“This should never have happened,” Weymouth told Post media reporter Howard Kurtz. “The fliers got out and weren't vetted. They didn't represent at all what we were attempting to do. We're not going to do any dinners that would impugn the integrity of the newsroom." 

Brauchli told Kurtz he was "appalled" by the plan."It suggests that access to Washington Post journalists was available for purchase," Brauchli told Kurtz. The proposal "promises we would suspend our usual skeptical questioning because it appears to offer, in exchange for sponsorships, the good name of The Washington Post." 

Earlier this morning, Brauchili said in a staffwide e-mail that the newsroom would not participate in the first of the planned events - a dinner scheduled July 21 at the home of Katharine Weymouth. Brauchli,was named on the flier as one of the "Hosts and Discussion Leaders." 

The offer - which essentially turns a news organization into a facilitator for private lobbyist-official encounters - was 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." 

Kris Coratti, communications director of Washington Post Media, a division of The Washington Post Company, said: "The flier circulated this morning came out of a business division for conferences and events, and the newsroom was unaware of such communication. It went out before it was properly vetted, and this draft does not represent what the company’s vision for these dinners are, which is meant to be an independent, policy-oriented event for newsmakers. 

"As written, the newsroom could not participate in an event like this. We do believe there is an opportunity to have a conferences and events business, and that The Post should be leading these conversations in Washington, big or small, while maintaining journalistic integrity. The newsroom will participate where appropriate." 

In his e-mail to the newsroom, labeled "Newsroom Independence," Brauchli wrote: "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 inexchange 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." 

The flier says: “Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No. The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it. What is guaranteed is a collegial evening, with Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds typically on the guest list of 20 or less. … “

Offered at $25,000 per sponsor, per Salon. Maximum of two sponsors per Salon. Underwriters’ CEO or Executive Director participates in the discussion. Underwriters appreciatively acknowledged in printed invitations and at the dinner. Annual series sponsorship of 11 Salons offered at $250,000 … Hosts and Discussion Leaders ... Health-care reporting and editorial staff members of The Washington Post ... An exclusive opportunity to participate in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done. ... A Washington Post Salon ... July 21, 2009 6:30 p.m. ... 

"Washington Post Salons are extensions of The Washington Post brand of journalistic inquiry into the issues, a unique opportunity for stakeholders to hear and be heard," the flier says. "At the core is a critical topic of our day. Dinner and a volley of ideas unfold in an evening of intelligent, news-driven and off-the-record conversation. ... By bringing together those powerful few in business and policy-making who are forwarding, legislating and reporting on the issues, Washington Post Salons give life to the debate. Be at this nexus of business and policy with your underwriting of Washington Post Salons." 

The first "Salon" was titled "Health-Care Reform: Better or Worse for Americans? The reform and funding debate."

 

 

[babooph]

Politicians & propagandists BOTH get fat from the lobbyists-massive cash for short speeches by family members or by themselves is a common bribe from lobbyists.The voter is the LEAST important in the fake democracy.Who would bribe them in a govt healthcare system ? That is why it has almost no chance.

[gravyboat4000]

This is funny, a lobbyist calling out a newspaper for it's,"ethical", behavior.

Too bad, Washington Post, no matter what you say now, you'll be looked upon as a left wing rag. Good luck with that revenue issue now.

[tmittelstaed]

What exactly is wrong with this story? It certainly is showing that the news is working - obviously not the Washington Post, but it's competitors wasted no time getting the word about this out. The Washington Post isn't the nation's newspaper, if you want to know the truth the wire services (AP) are.

[tincup356]

Who in Washington is NOT for sale? Our government has turned into a bunch of corrupt greedy "Richard's",,,,who DO NOT represent the people that voted them into office,,,,,,That goes for BOTH parties. Middle class Americans should be ashamed of the way Washington is doing us and start some major protests,,,,it will only get worse until we do.,,,,,,,,,America needs to get out of the two lie wars we are in and spend that money getting the middle class back on it's feet. I am sick and tired of congress doing everything they shouldn't and NOTHING that they should.,,,,,,,,,,The truth of the matter is, ,,,,,,Congress, BOTH parties and houses, are in conspiracy with corporate America to destroy the middle class and split the masses and the wealth,,,I pray Americans wake up and have the guts to stand up to theses so called representatives of the people and make them hold responsibility for ALL the problems that their lobby activities have caused over the last 50 years,,,,,for those lobby tainted legislation's have directly led to where we are today for without them none of the mess would be possible. They are ALL guilty of HIGH TREASON.

[stn_sage]

The media as a rule---is NO different than politicians! They both have a PRICE! Selling influence has been going on since the inception of the republic! That's WHY deregulation and concentration of the media into just FIVE hands, is so dangerous!

Personally, I don't know HOW you can stay neutral and unbiased when either the reporters or the management are holding "fund-raisers" for the politicians they support!? I don't believe you CAN!

This is why there was so little critical examination of the facts, by the press, in the run-up to the Iraq War! And, why the media dismissed as cranks, anyone who spoke out against it!

Well, this "event" is totally inappropriate for the 'Post to conduct!
And, in the future, ALL signed articles done by staff writers ought to
include the writer's political affiliation! And, I mean for EVERY newspaper or media outlet, in print or on the web!

It would help the reader to know through what 'colored spectacles' the writer views the world!

[nextgenman09]

Interesting that there isn't more outrage over this. But then that's to be expected since this is yet another Obama pandering publication and as most intelligent folk know, outrage and criticism is only reserved for the right. Pay to play is alive and well in the corrupt Obama regime.
by credibility2 July 2, 2009 2:21 PM PDT
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Honestly, give it a rest. The freaktron Fake Republicans mastered the art of pander a long time ago when the put together the "Coalition of the Nut Bumpkins" and the psycho NeoNuts.

Corruption came long before Obama.

[nextgenman09]

Until Republitards stop their presidential campaign to race back to Washington to beg for a socialist bailout for those "entrepreneurs".

[nextgenman09]

Well, chalk up the WashPost as yet another elitist - against everything America was meant to be - skankho entity.

[credibility2]

Interesting that there isn't more outrage over this. But then that's to be expected since this is yet another Obama pandering publication and as most intelligent folk know, outrage and criticism is only reserved for the right. Pay to play is alive and well in the corrupt Obama regime.

[koko98-2009]

Weymouth may not have known about the fliers but she certainly knew about the $250,000 cover charge.