Washington Post says conferences must be on the record for its journalists to participate
By APThursday, January 14, 2010
After scandal, Post issues new conference policy
WASHINGTON — The Washington Post says its journalists won’t participate in sponsored events with newsmakers unless they are on the record.
The new policy comes six months after the paper came under criticism for inviting lobbyists and business leaders to pay $25,000 for intimate gatherings with government officials and Post journalists. The conversations at the planned dinners would have been off the record.
The series was canceled and Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth apologized to readers for the plan.
The new guidelines say that as a general rule, journalists will participate in Post events only when there are multiple sponsors.
The plan for the dinner discussions was overseen by the Post’s then-general manager of events and conferences. He later resigned.
Information from: The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com
