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A collective ethical gasp was heard when Politico reported the Washington Post’s intention to hold sponsored salons, during which lobbyists could hobnob with administration officials and Post employees for a price. Washington Post staff writer Paul Farhi, who has been reporting the story, says the salon idea was likely the result of a really bad case of groupthink.
I'd really like to be able to download the On the Media Singers' "Present & Future . . . Newspaper Industry" jingle as an MP3. Or are you waiting on them to finish an entire CD?
Dear Bob,
I know that snark is your schtict. I challenge you to step aside from the facile dismissal of Rev. Sharpton as the "ringleader of many a media circus built on scurrilous allegations" and enlighten me as I can think of ... ONE episode , the rape (real or alleged) of Tawana Brawley. I get that the legal system has run its course and reached its conclusion (as Sharpton's comments on post-mortems on Jackson's legal battles reflect- WHO CARES WHAT CONCLUSION THE COURTS REACHED?!??!?!?) I also get why the case was pursued with such vigor by her advocates.
While I may disagree with your characterization and the conventional wisdom on that slice of history I will not fight you about it. I do challenge you to produce evidence of Sharpton's many "media circuses". Lot of folks write the man off as a buffoon and miss the point that while he is a complex figure who many have ambivalence about, he is not a joke. He represents a substantial slice of Black America's views on many issues and is no more of an egotistical blowhard than the average snarky media critic in my estimation. That said when I think of the moments he has been in the media's eye I don't think of him being on the wrong side of things. He has generally been on the side of people who have been victims of homicidal violence perpetrated by racist mobs- both those without and those with badges.
Are his political alliances sometimes confounding? Indeed. Have there been some financial questions raised? Sure. Like I said, a lot to be ambivalent about. Still as an advocate he is clear and he is consistent and his importance should not be casually dismissed.
Not sure why WP doesn't simply run off record Thought Leadership conferences from a "WP Intel Unit."
Such a group has been a profit center for years for the publishers of The Economist magazine of course. For many involved -- including journalists -- find Economist Conferences to be the most valuable and in-depth exchanges the company has to offer.
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