July 3, 2009

Pay-for-Chat Plan Falls Flat at Washington Post - NYTimes.com

Pay-for-Chat Plan Falls Flat at Washington Post - NYTimes.com:


Could we have some outrage from the Times editorialists, please? This is a travesty at the Washington Post, not a PR fiasco as the Post's public editor would have it. This is a deep breach of journalistic ethics. In fact, this is unbelievable! What have the politicians to say? Are they ashamed or afraid to castigate the 'fifth column?'

The older I grow, the thinner is my trust of politicians, the media and those who have a responsibility to to right by us. I don't think this is cynicism, rather a conclusion based on evidence. What say you?.

Why should we trust what management of the Post may say? To their credit, the Post's newsroom was appropriately concerned and said so.

"The revelation of the parties early Thursday morning by Politico.com appalled members of The Post newsroom and put the paper squarely in the cross hairs of journalism ethicists. In response, Ms. Weymouth canceled the first dinner, scheduled for July 21.

A flier describing the events promised corporate sponsors conversation (“Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No.”) at the Washington home of Ms. Weymouth. Sponsors were asked to pay $25,000 to attend an event, or underwrite a series of 11 for $250,000.

The July 21 event, focusing on health care reform, “guaranteed” a “collegial evening” with health industry advocates, Post journalists covering the field and administration officials involved with its policies."

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