Washington Post

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 9:40am on Monday, February 8th, 2010

Obama Avoiding White House Press Corps?

The Washington Post reported on February 8, 2010:

"Six months ago, network executives were complaining that the White House was costing them tens of millions of dollars by pressing them to carry presidential news conferences in prime time.

Problem solved: President Obama hasn't held a full-scale news conference since July. Instead, he answered a dozen people's questions last week on YouTube, most of them easily finessed and -- extra bonus! -- no annoying follow-ups of the kind posed by real, live journalists.

It would be hard -- impossible, actually -- to argue that Obama hasn't been accessible to the media, not with his constant television interviews. The man has even done color commentary at a Georgetown basketball game. But the decision to bypass the White House press corps is no accident.

"It's a source of great frustration here," says Chip Reid, CBS's White House correspondent. "It's important for us to hold the president's feet to the fire."

NBC White House reporter Chuck Todd calls the situation a "shame," saying the administration is trying to control the message rather than allowing Obama to be seen "unscripted."

The full story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702693.html

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:20am on Friday, January 29th, 2010

Wash. Post Editorial Board Livid Over Blog Post

Washington City Paper reported on January 28, 2010:

"In the post, which the paper temporarily deleted from its site last night, Metro education reporter Bill Turque blasted editorial writer Jo-Ann Armao for furnishing D.C. public schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee a "print version of the Larry King Show."

When reached today for reaction on Turque's strong words, Armao said, "I am not talking about it in any way, shape, or form," noting that she's not even gossiping with friends who've approached her on the matter. When asked why she's going covert on this one, Armao said she was busy with a bunch of other things. I said, "Aw, come on," and then pointed out that the journalistic thing to do is to open up.

Armao then apologized in advance for hanging up. Dial tone."

The full story:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2010/01/28/washington-post-editorial-board-livid-over-turque-blog-post/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 9:32am on Thursday, January 28th, 2010

A Washington Post blog entry critical of the paper has disappeared from the paper's website, Washington City Paper reported on January 27, 2010:

"When something that juicy gets taken down, phone calls are in order. Reached in his office right in the middle of the State of the Union Address, editorial board chief Fred Hiatt wouldn't get into it. "I don’t have anything to tell you," he said.

A newsroom source, however, confirmed that the post had indeed been taken down. The problem, according to the source, was that the post contained more opinion than allowed in the blog post of a beat writer. Translation: No posts with passion, outrage, and great writing are allowed on washingtonpost.com. Well, at least not if you're on a beat.

Late Wednesday night, Posties were working on a new version with duller elbows."

The full story:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2010/01/27/washington-post-blog-post-critical-of-washington-post-disappears-from-web-site/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 11:34am on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Washington Post Planning "New" Business Section

Washington City Paper reported on January 25, 2010:

"The Washington Post is plotting a possible move into deeper reporting on the local biz scene, according to a newsroom source and a prototype that some Post subscribers have received. According to the source, the new publication---which would be named "Capital Business"---would come out on a weekly basis---sorta like the Washington Business Journal---and would focus on local biz developments---sorta like the Washington Business Journal. A subscription would cost $1.99 per week.

Here's the intro text of the poll that went out recently to some of the paper's subscribers:

Thank you again for agreeing to take this survey. As you can see, there is a prototype of a potential new, once a week, business publication from The Washington Post newspaper in the package you received. A subscription to this publication would be $1.99 a week.

Most of the questions will concern your opinion of this publication, however, we would like to begin with a few questions about what business topics you are interested in. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

Your opinions matter to us. Thank you!

A Post source indicates that the paper might hire some young reporters to do the low-to-the-ground reporting necessary to make a local biz pub worthwhile---sorta like the Washington Business Journal."

The full story:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2010/01/25/washington-post-may-launch-new-biz-publication/