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Archive for the ‘Chinese Wall’ Category

Chinese Wall- Part Two

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Extra!

Extra!

Some readers may have missed Andrew Alexander’s column in Sunday’s Washington Post. Alexander is the ombudsman at the Post and his column reported a major collapse of the Post’s Chinese Wall. Do take time to read it all.

The Post planned to sell access to a series of 11 off-the-record “salons,” intimate dinners at the home of publisher Katherine Weymouth. Alexander reports that the sponsorship fee would be up to $25,000.

Alexander’s lede: “The Washington Post’s ill-fated plan to sell sponsorships of off-the-record “salons” was an ethical lapse of monumental proportions.”

Might have been pointless, too. Pointless since the gatherings of Washington movers and shakers would be off the record.

Alexander again: “The Post’s internal stylebook equates “background” with “not for attribution,” meaning that statements and information can be reported and attributed to a confidential source.  But ‘off the record’ means ‘information cannot be used, either in the paper or in further reporting.’ So for newsroom personnel, any information gleaned at a salon dinner would be useless.

Politico.com broke the story on July 2nd, disclosing a flyer soliciting sponsorship for an event scheduled for July 21st.

Alexander concludes: “The Post’s reputation now carries a lasting stain.”

Frankly, my dears, I don’t believe so; unless by “lasting” you mean no more than two weeks. Memories are short.