WaPo Internal Email Responds to the Politico Story

[...] AGAIN: Washington Post seems to be trying to justify their pimping. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Washington Post Sells Its Soul?–UPDATED", url: [...]

[...] Apparently the executive editor of the Post has sent the following email to his staff (h/t to Washington Independent): “A flyer was distributed this week offering an “underwriting opportunity” for a dinner [...]

[...] Dave Weigel has an email Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli just sent out to the editorial staff saying reporters now [...]

[...] the newsroom mutiny: …an e-mail from Washington Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli that’s been sent to the paper’s reporters and editors in response to Politico’s story about access-for-cash offers to lobbyists: [...]

[...] Dave Weigel has an email Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli just sent out to the editorial staff saying reporters now [...]

in other words, they got caught and are backtracking.

Boy, and I used to not subscribe because of the incredibly poor quality of the editorial product, and the declining quality of the news side of the operation.

I believe the key paragraph of the Politico article is this:

>em>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.

It's not unprecedented for companies' conferences and marketing divisions to come up with ideas that look like terrific moneymakers, but violate business or journalistic ethics. I believe Coratti's statement to the effect that the proposal wasn't cleared by higher-ups in the Post's newspaper offices. I'd expect people in the business decision to be fired for being so oblivious to ethical conflicts.

SRS

I think the whole point is that in fact they ARE going to do these things in ways that are consistent with their values. Their values are the problem.

[...] was an e-mail posted by Washington Independent columnist David Weigel from Brauchli which said that the "language [...]

Washington Post – The FOX new of dailies.

That's an amazingly polished an finished flyer to be a wild hare from some random person in the marketing department.

Moreover, since some of the money levels were fairly astronomical (a quarter of a million dollars for the top level!), there's no way that this wasn't discussed all over the place. I've never known a marketing droid who could shut up about a big moneymaking idea…

…and, again, follow the money. Or rather, the paycheck. If the guy who took the blame for this keeps his job, it was approved by upper management. People get fired for parking in the wrong space in big companies like this, what's the punishment for doing a number on the whole paper's reputation in front of the world?

[...] UPDATED AGAIN: Washington Post seems to be trying to justify their pimping. [...]

How in the pocket of the Obama administration can you be?? It's to no wonder newspapers are going down the crapper, does anybody do any investigative reporting anymore? I noticed the mainstream media never even covered this except for Fox. Why dont they try looking into why all Obama's “town halls” are set ups or why some Inspector Generals are fired with no explanation given? I hope this country is opening its eyes to the Obama-media, they get their information straight from the White House and this shows it!!

[...] the Post’s executive editor, Marcus Brauchli, said he knew nothing about the specifics and that his troops would not participate. The [...]

[...] the Post’s executive editor, Marcus Brauchli, said he knew nothing about the specifics and that his troops would not participate. The [...]

Washington Post – The FOX new of dailies.