Katharine Weymouth Apologizes For Paid Salon Plan

WASHINGTON — The Washington Post's publisher apologized to readers Sunday for a plan to charge business leaders and lobbyists for intimate dinner discussions with government officials and the newspaper's journalists.

A flier surfaced last week promoting a plan to charge $25,000 to sponsor one of a series of dinner parties that would include off-the-record conversations with Post journalists and access to Washington insiders. The series was canceled Thursday.

"I want to apologize for a planned new venture that went off track and for any cause we may have given you to doubt our independence and integrity," Publisher Katharine Weymouth said in a letter that appeared in the newspaper's op-ed section Sunday.

Weymouth said the flier wasn't approved by her or the paper's editors, and that it didn't accurately describe the plan for the small gatherings.

The flier advertised a "Washington Post salon" on health care reform at Weymouth's home on July 21. The gathering would include 20 or fewer guests, including Obama administration officials, members of Congress, business leaders and lobbyists.

According to the flier, each of 11 salons would have one or two sponsors who would pay $25,000 to underwrite the event and invite guests.

The flier said participants were offered a chance to "build crucial relationships with Washington Post news executives in a neutral and informal setting." It called the health care salon an "off-the-record conversation."

Weymouth's letter said the paper was planning dinners but including "firm parameters" that gave sponsors no control over content and no special access to its journalists. Reporters wouldn't be restricted from asking questions, she said.

"If the events were to be sponsored by other companies, everything would be at arm's length," she said in the letter.

Critics of the program say the newspaper's promise of exclusivity for Washington insiders is at odds with the newspaper's mission to its readers.

Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli said the small-scale dinners were a mistake.

"I think there is a legitimate debate right now about whether we should be doing this at all. We thought there was a way to do so consistent with our journalistic values, but in light of this experience, it is clear that this was a mistake,"

Weymouth said in an accompanying Post article that the July 21 dinner was hastily planned, and a marketing employee sent the flier without approval. She and Brauchli said in the article that the newspaper had been discussing a new business including dinners, seminars and conferences.

Comments

[dinglebe]

This stinking mess was Katharine Weymouth's idea! Anything less than her resignation is insufficient.

[NYCPub]

So let me get this straight. There were three parties invited to these salons. The Obama admin officials, the Washington Post writers and editors, and the lobbyists.

So let's see how that matches up with Weymouth's explaination.

"Like other media companies, The Post hosts conferences and live events that bring together journalists, government officials and other leaders for discussions of important topics." says Weymouth.

"Journalists" = WashPo journos - check
"government officials" = current admin officials - check
"other leaders" = ????? lobbyists??

Wait a second Ms. Weymouth. You mention that "like other media companies, The Post hosts conferences....that bring together journalists, govt officials and other leaders for discussions of important topics." Where in there did you include "lobbyists"? Or is your verbal gymnastics and intellectual dishonesty quite evident in that you refer to these pay-to-play lobbyists as "other leaders." Do tell. In your mea cupla, where do you refer to the fact that all the media companies ask lobbyists to come play with the govt officials and your editors. Do tell.

[dusdidt]

Weymouth gives us one of those smoke and mirror letters that deflect while explaining nothing. OK, this health care dinner where a marketing underling had the gall to sent out dinner invitations from Weymouth's personal email address without her knowledge to government officials who would be conned and deceived, not knowing that you were behind their backs selling their presence to pay to play corporate lobbyists at $25,000 a pop to lobby at your house. Hmmm, do you really think we would that a poor marketing underling would have the nerve to plan a VIP party at his boss's house without the your knowledge, deep involvement and permission? Weymouth says she was out of the loop. I'm sure she is a detail wonk all the way down to deciding the menu and table settings. Bet she was charging more for those who got to seat next to the highest powered duped Obama official. I don't buy her cries of ignorance. She says she canceled the July Health care dinner but her statement says nothing about the other 9 pay to play dinners. Her statement was written by lawyers and is artfully ambiguous and double talk. She should resign and get a e understands nothing job on K Street as she understands nothing about truth or ethical journalism. Reporting at the Washington Post is suspect now. Katherine Weymouth's Prava on the Patomac.

[AnnoyedCanuck]

"[Weymouth] and Brauchli said in the article that the newspaper had been discussing a new business including dinners, seminars and conferences.]

I thought the news and editorial pages of the Washington Post were supposed to be the "seminar" and the "conference".

How stupid and naive of me. Turns out the newspaper isn't there to report news and frame public debate, it's only there to provide a networking venue for the corporate/­government­/lobbyist elite - the people who actually make the decisions in their own interest. Then, after they've shmoozed and strategized in the luxurious home of the Post's hereditary publisher, ordinary Americans get to buy a paper and read what was decided on their behalf.

Neat trick. Gee, capitalism sure works great for 2nd-generation beneficiaries of multiple-voting shares. For the rest of the citizenry, not so much.

[goodgravy]

she and sarah palin should get together to compare notes on how not to make a lick of sense.

[sosi]

Liars! If American people demand journalistic integrity, Washington Post will fold within 6 months...

[SeeJaneRunning]

16 comments? Imagine if this had been Fox and the W admin. Can't you see the frothing liberal mouths in reaction to that one?

[sosi]

Folks prefer chasing Palin's tail, than thinking seriously. Sad, but it is why the mess now...

[plooger]

The meetings were going to be at her house. But she hadn't 'approved' the meetings.

Right.

[dinglebe]

She gave her editor the key.

[Winski]

Only two words fit in a reply to Ms. Weymouth...RESIGN - TODAY.

[demrepub]

This would be the main thread if it was "Faux News" selling access to Bush Administration officials. What a joke. What we all should be asking is who in the Obama administration agreed to attend this "salon"? Then we should be asking why they're still employed and who knew about this.

[dinglebe]

No one agreed to attend.

[republiscum]

what would sarah palin do? probably cut and run. lol

[Tim Neuenhaus]

"a marketing employee sent the flier without approval"

Translation: Ok, who the $*#@ let that get in the hands of those in the non-corporate media. How are we supposed to back the money side now?

[TFlint]

Why not? Some WAPO staffers also work for the CIA. If you ain't embedded, you don't have sources.

[tompoe]

Weymouth and her paper now belong to the Twit Brigade. Not sure which move was more absurd, Weymouth selling access, or Palin thinking America tolerates leaders who quit elected posts for no reason.

[Doug Welch]

Too late WaPo, you have lost the last of your credibility with Americans outside the Beltway.
And people wonder why print journalism is going the way of the dodo?