Gotta beef with the Obama administration? Wanna win friends and influence people? Have an agenda you want to promote via a respected news venue?
Well, as if it hasn't been easy enough in the past to spread your propaganda by greasing the media's sweaty palm, now it's been made even easier by the Washington Post, which has announced that it is "offering lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to 'those powerful few' — Obama administration officials, members of Congress and the paper’s own reporters and editors".
And it'll only cost you 25-250,000 dollars!
Politico's Mike Allen reports that:
For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post is offering lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to "those powerful few" — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and the paper’s own reporters and editors.
Apparently the offer was made to a health care lobbyist who leaked it to a reporter who was outraged that the paper dare charge for access to its "health care reporting and editorial staff."
Allen, to his credit, says:
The offer — which essentially turns a news organization into a facilitator for private lobbyist-official encounters — is 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.
This is all part of a new WaPo initiative called Washington Post Salons, the very name of which belies its elitist intentions. In fact, the one-page flyer released to the press by the lobbyist reads (forgive the extensive citation, but it's not from Allen, it's from Allen citing the actual invitation):
"Underwriting Opportunity: An evening with the right people can alter the debate (...) 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 (...)
"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. 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."
Do you fucking believe this???
UPDATE:
Thanks to seesdifferent for this update on WaPo's desperate backpedaling:
Washington Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth today canceled plans for a series of policy dinners at her home after learning that marketing fliers offered lobbyists access to Obama administration officials, members of Congress and Post journalists in exchange for payments as high as $250,000.
"Absolutely, I'm disappointed," Weymouth, the chief executive of Washington Post Media, said in an interview. "This should never have happened. 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."