Panic at the Post!

Thank you to Politico for breaking the news on the Washington Post's pay-to-play dinners which were apparently advertised on a marketing flier. These series of policy suppers were planned to be held at Washington Post Publisher, Katherine Weymouth's House. The salons were to give corporate underwriters access to Obama officials, members of congress and Washington Post journalists.

Each individual dinner would cost $25,000 or $250,000 for a series of eleven. They were explicated to be off-the-record and in a relaxed setting with policy makers. An internal review delves further here.

The post launched an apologetic article titled letter to the reader and the first of the salons due for July 21st, which was focused on health care policy, was canceled.

The flier, the WaPo comments, was not what they had in mind. They say that it suggests they would hold these dinners between journalists and power brokers paid for by a single sponsor. Executive editor of the Post, Marcus Brauchli, said the plan was to have multiple sponsors than to be run by a single corporate entity.

But July 21st was around the corner and yet Kaiser Permanente was the only sponsor listed. Kaiser officials later stated they were undecided as of whether to participate.

The media discusses some correspondence walls being built within the post that allowed the fliers to get out without approval of the newsroom editors. And also without Katherine Weymouth's approval. So, the person who was supposed to have these events at their own house was clueless of the fliers prior? Uh...huh.

The flier reads,

"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".

These are the types of examples I like to point out to those who don't catch how intertwined the state, corporate interest and media can be. Some of the WaPo's staff declined to show up for the planned salons. Maybe because they were being sold off to corporate bidders with a side of Fava beans and Chianti.