Legal Commentary

The Business Of Access Journalism

By Big Tent Democrat

So the Washington Post has scrapped its full monty pay for play scheme. But it is important to remember that the business of Traditional "journalism" now is in fact favorable coverage in exchange for access - which can be just as pernicious. A couple of days ago, Bob Somerby linked to this June 3 Digby piece on Richard Wolffe, the fellow covering the Obama campaign while at the same time writing a book about it. Digby cited this Wolffe quote:

“The idea that journalists are somehow not engaged in corporate activities is not really in touch with what’s going on. Every conversation with journalists is about business models and advertisers,” he said, recalling that, on the day after the 2008 election, Newsweek sent him to Detroit to deliver a speech to advertisers. “You tell me where the line is between business and journalism,” he said.

More . . .

The business of "journalism" today is gossip and access. The WaPo tried to charge the lobbyists and "the newmakers" for access to WaPo reporting. It made naked what the real business of the Traditional Media now is. The rest of us? We are just "d*cks".

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 02, 2009 (boomark / email).