In an update on Tim Graham's earlier post about The Washington Post’s flier that circulated to Beltway lobbyists, the Post abruptly canceled its "salon" program to offer "exclusive access" to "Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds" for between $25,000 and $250,000. (View an image of the flier.)
According to the Washington Examiner, Post company spokeswoman Kris Coratti issued a statement Thursday morning claiming that the flier was a "draft" that hadn't been "properly vetted" before being dispatched.
"As written, the newsroom could not participate in an event like this," Coratti said, "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."
There was an e-mail posted by Washington Independent columnist David Weigel from Brauchli which said that the "language in the flyer [sic] and the description of the event preclude our participation."
"We will not participate in events where promises are made that in exchange for money The Post will offer access to newsroom personnel or will refrain from confrontational questioning. Our independence from advertisers or sponsors is inviolable," Brauchli's e-mail states "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."
"This should never have happened. The fliers got out and weren't vetted," Weymouth told her paper. "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."




















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Good one
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:34 ET by Sefton"...while maintaining journalistic integrity."
So she's a comedian as well?
Unconstitutional & Incestious ties...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:35 ET by AMR1960These debauched, wretched, crass, worm-tongues in the media...
Have abandoned Journalism, and whored-out themselves into a cesspool of corruption.
The 'Obamedia' along with "DearLeader" himself, deserve the reckoning that's coming towards them...
__________________________
Long Live...THE REPUBLIC !
"The fliers got out and weren't vetted".
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:40 ET by jdlybrandYeah....right... that's the ticket.
That is called "damage
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:57 ET by kgThat is called "damage control", a phrase used often during the Clinton years.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
uh huh
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 17:51 ET by Kekela WardYeah, somebody just sent out dinner invites at your home, with your name attached, for hundreds of thousands of dollars and you knew nothing about it.
It's good to see a big corporation like that giving so much responsibility to the mailroom guy.
Sam: "I hurt somebody's feelings once"
CYA mode...Big
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:40 ET by bigtimerCYA mode...Big time!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Wow what a surprise.Next
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:41 ET by well99Wow what a surprise.Next thing you know they will be devoted to giveing Obama only favorable press.Opps my bad they already are.
"impugn the integrity of the news room".
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:48 ET by jdlybrandHow can you impugn something that does not exist?
Whores
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:59 ET by iveseenitallWe've all known about politcal whores; now we know about the journalist whores. And we know the prices they charge---wow!
BTW, this is what they did in the old Soviet Union. And these are not socialist/communists----riiight!
And let's congratulate Tim for being a real American jounalist.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Whores
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 16:10 ET by jdlybrandWe'll call them 'presstitutes'.
To their credit, they charge
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 17:27 ET by Mike SargentTo their credit, they charge prices that would've turned off even Eliot Spitzer...at least they're extremely expensive presstitutes, right?
Amiright?
(crickets)...
well...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 17:43 ET by Kekela WardFor the amount of people getting screwed, the price seems pretty reasonable to me....(sarcasm off)
Sam: "I hurt somebody's feelings once"
Did I mention...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:49 ET by jdlybrand...I hate these people.
Vetting
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 17:29 ET by seesalrunPost company spokeswoman Kris Coratti issued a statement Thursday
morning claiming that the flier was a "draft" that hadn't been
"properly vetted" before being dispatched.
They had the same problem with certain candidates me think.
Too bad some were not "properly vetted" before election day.
Lame....shame shame
And, what was her role...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 19:23 ET by zachlindI just have one question regarding Washington Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth’s canceled plans for a series of policy dinners offering Washington lobbyists access to Obama administration officials, members of Congress and Washington Post journalists in exchange for payments as high as $250,000 a pop. Given Ms. Weymouth’s debatable young age and her arguably good looks (assuming the picture I saw wasn’t altered with Photoshop), what exactly was her appointed roll in the Pay-to-Access actives?
Nope. Don't Believe It.
Fri, 07/03/2009 - 02:21 ET by BondPlainBondThey say they've shut it down. More than likely, it's just gone deeper underground and the venue has changed.
jessieH
Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:50 ET by jessieHjessieH I don't trust them. What's to stop them from doing it, any way? They will just find another way to "get the word out". Corruption is rampant in D.C.