I saw this late last night and was debating whether to post it as part of my ongoing "No blood in ants" series -- a brutally honest account of one of the recent flurry of journalism summits where the sound and fury signifies nothing. The headline was "Save journalism: Beats us, panel says."
The cosmic quote was from the publisher of the Washington Post, Katharine Weymouth:
“We will look at anything and are taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Weymouth. “We think about a ton of things. Everything is open.” When asked whether print papers will always be around, Weymouth said, “I don’t know. I don’t predict. Nobody knows.”
Anyone detect a whiff of desperation there? Today, we learned that one of her "ton of things" in the works was this:
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.
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, Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli said this morning that he was "appalled" by the plan and said the newsroom will not participate.
It takes a lot to shock people in the journalism world in 2009, but people are taken quite aback by this. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise, though. For months, deep thinkers have been telling newsroom leaders they can't survive without "non-traditional revenue sources," since no one is actually buying ads or purchasing the print edition.
But in regular business, a lot of revenue comes from cashing in on your brand name. But a newspaper's good name is supposed (I know, I know, supposed) to be all about an added layer of integrity, which means you can't cash in on your brand, not in a cheesy way like this. As bad as this looks for the Washington Post, the bigger picture is that the noose around American newspapers' necks suddenly feels a little tighter.
(Associated Press photo)
Posted by Will Bunch @ 12:50 PM
Permalink |
43 comments
You would think that for the Post to even consider this, it would have to be pretty cozy with the Administration and the Democrat controlled Congress. State controlled media at it's finest. Heck, even Helen Thomas confronted Gibbs about media manipulation by the Administration.
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Hey Genius, STFU!!!! I still use my Walkman.
bird11 - are you are telling some to "STFU" b/c you use an extremely outdated piece of technology? What a *ss you are.
Delco shouldn't that be AN *ss??
---}}} Delco shouldn't that be AN *ss?? {{{--- Are all "conservatives" such schoolmarms/grammar mavens?
Simmer down people. This is a family newspaper.
bird11 - you are telling some to "STFU" b/c you use an extremely outdated piece of technology? What a *ss you are.
"You would think that for the Post to even consider this, it would have to be pretty cozy with the Administration and the Democrat controlled Congress." . . . . . LOL, wasn't it NewsMax which recently praised WaPo for being "fair and balanced" under Weymouth's leadership, even lumping it with FoxNews? Don't forget how it dumped Froomkin recently, too. Nothing has been more embarassing to WaPo than being dead wrong in cheerleading Bush's war policies, and Froomkin's calling them on it has been unbearable. Froomkin was supposed to be the token lib, but he wasn't supposed to be the only columnist who got it right. C'est la vie.
The Sloth can't help himself.
Thanks for getting it, tpsyogaqueen.
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Times are tough, Bunch. You of all people should know considering TPSsssss hired you to 'entertain' at his latest party by dressing up like a bearded woman....BTW I heard you don't require monetary compensation.......disgusting.
Oh. Right. An*l-retentive "conservative" posters aren't really schoolmarms/grammar mavens, they're just "joking." Just like wacko, far-right Republicans like Rush aren't really lunatics, they're just "joking." I forgot. I won't let it happen again. LOL!
Sorry, bp - that party that apparently you attended (with your fellow ARTs?) wasn't my party, (although I'm sure you had a wonderful time, nontheless, regaling each other with your homoerotic fantasies about me).
TPS the original statement about Walkmen was facetious. The grammar correction was just me using "an extremely outdated piece of technology" called the English language.
"the bigger picture is that the noose around American newspapers' necks suddenly feels a little tighter.' . . . I prefer the guillotine metaphor Will. We're in the midst of a populist electronic revolution, and WaPo's arrogant display of elitism here easily translates into "qu'ils mangent de la brioche".
Will, This Rag is running two stories: 1 the CEO of J&J is calling for more Federal "Research" money, in the Health-Care Reform Bill. 2 J&J just bought a "Research" company for 1 Billion. No conflict of interest there either. Of course, the stories weren't on the same page.
[Posted by Talking point sleuth 02:54 PM, 07/02/2009
Sorry, bp - that party that apparently you attended (with your fellow ARTs?) wasn't my party,] Keep telling yourself that, Sloth.....or should I say, Rupaul???
"Are all "conservatives" such schoolmarms/grammar mavens?" Truth be told Tps, I remember you doing the exact same thing...very often. You were especially strident when correcting Arn's spelling and punctuation (apostrophe's were your main area of contention.)
Actually, legatus - I didn't correct his spelling and punctuation - I only laughed at it. You have to admit, he did display a certain genius in those areas. I remember his constant ranting about Democratic Parties, and the American countries. LOL! Of course, nothing quite matched his comments on Clinton's lack-a-daisy attitude. Man, I miss ol' Arnie.
"I didn't correct his spelling and punctuation - I only laughed at it." Laughed at it....corrected it....a distinction without difference.
LOL! Bp goes to a party, fantasizes that it was my party, fantasizes about Will dressing in women's clothing and dancing at said party, posts about his fantasies on a public forum - and then laughably claims that I'm trying to "tell myself" that he never attended any party of mine. You. Could. Not. Make. It. Up.
"You. Could. Not. Make. It. Up." So the party did happen?
Comment removed.
---}}} apostrophe's were your main area of contention. {{{--- Ironic. No?
---}}} "You. Could. Not. Make. It. Up." So the party did happen? {{{--- Oh, I forgot. Conservatives and the inability to understand anything other than the most simple of references. The point, birdie, is that you couldn't beforehand have invented a story where someone would be as lame-brained as bpphilly has just displayed. Obviously, it IS possible to make up homoerotic fantasies - as bpphilly has not only done so on this very thread, but has done so many, many times on this very blog.
Get over it, Rupaul. You had a party, filled with 'happy' men, Will dressed and danced as a bearded woman and then refused monetary repayment. It's the 21st century, Ru. No one is judging you, but for some reason your guilt ridden conscience won't allow you to reconcile the fact that you're into dudes. No biggie, just get over your own hangups. Sheesh, talk about closeted frustrations!
"---}}} apostrophe's were your main area of contention. {{{--- Ironic. No?" LOL...you got me....guilty as charged! But really, do you have to be such an an*l retentive schoolmarm. ;^)
Happy 4th of July everyone. God Bless America. See ya next week.
TPS are you really that devoid of a sense of humor??
Birdie. Post something funny and I'll let you know.
[Birdie. Post something funny and I'll let you know.] How 'bout a funny visualization? Rupaul (you), riding in on a unicorn, wearing fuscia leotards, with a cape, coming to rescue your damsel in distress (Bunch). Happy 4th.....and by that I don't mean go exploit illegal immigrants. Lowlife.
TPS try this one:: Q: What’s the difference between Michael Jackson and a grocery bag?..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A: One is white, made out of plastic, and dangerous for kids to play with and the other you carry your groceries in.
is this "huffpo" for real? i just linked over there via hotair and they had a sidebar with "Don't miss HuhhPo bloggers" - wait for it now - "Jermaine Dupri"..."Darryl Hannah"..."Alec Baldwin"..."Russell Simmons"...and "Barry Levinson". LOL.
No, not funny???? OK give me one more try, here goes.... Why did Michael Jackson like twenty eight year olds?.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Because there are TWENTY of them. Come on TPS Comedy Gold!!!!!
Q: What was MJ's final request?
A: To have his ashes spread onto a young boy's birthday cake. Why? So he could come out of a boy's #ss one more time.
"Heee-Hee. Sha-mon-a! Blanket, they're being ignorant, stop being ignorant."
OK TPS I know you'll love this one!!!! It's the kind of humor all good liberals love. (Paul Schafer jammin to my entrance .....) A lot of coverage of President Obama's (genuflect) date with his wife in New York. Imagine that a Democratic President actually dating his own wife (hahahahaha) What wasn't covered however is that while The President and Michelle were trippin' the light fantastic here in new York the kids got to take in a ballgame at the New Yankee Stadium. I hear that got pregnant by Alex Rodriguez during the 7th Inning stretch (HAR HAR HAR HAR).
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEFEND HER. AND A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR OUR CAPTURED SOLDIER.
Beeps, I don't think you have anything to be ashamed about. You're only projecting your homoerotic fantasies at the rate of about 3 posts an hour. However, your penchant for adding a one word insult at the end of your posts suggests that you're still insecure about your intense desires, that we might take you too seriously and stop playing. Loosen up a little, eh?
"Because there are TWENTY of them. Come on TPS Comedy Gold!!!!!" . . . Oh what the heck....Q: Why did Michael Jackson go to K Mart?
A: He heard they had boys pants half off.
As newspaper fan (although often critical--but baseball fan's also complain about how their team is run, too), I resent the fact that a major transgression by one of the nation's major newspapers as reported by Will has only provoked childish infighting among the commenters, even the ones that are known to be sensible. If you are not going to comment on the underlying post, then shut up.
s&l: "This is the most blatant proof yet of the axis of corruption between the government, special interests, and the mainstream media that exists in Washington.
The real divide of American politics is not Democrats versus Republicans, or liberals versus conservatives – but the entrenched political class versus the American people."
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About Will Bunch
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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