Washington Post sells access, $25,000+

I know this has been all over the place this morning, but one thing has really been bothering me. How much did they charge before?

For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post has offered lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, non-confrontational access to "those powerful few" — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and — at first — even the paper’s own reporters and editors.

The astonishing offer was detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he felt it was a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff."

Former Pressies Warn President-Elect Obama Not to Go Crazy on Web

Bloody morons. "Too accessible"?

He used the Internet to break fundraising records and win the White House, and now President-elect Barack Obama is expected to expand his reach via a greatly enhanced Whitehouse.gov website. But before he makes any big moves, former White House press aides to several presidents have a warning: Don't become so Web-accessible that it devalues the president's message making. "There is a real challenge and risk," says Don Baer, a former Clinton-era communications boss and former U.S. News staffer.

The risk: "Cheapen the president's message."

(snip)

Baer, for example, suggested that using blogs, Web chats, and video conferences is a good idea, but he said that the White House has to make sure not to overdo it and thus make the president too accessible.

Who are these troglodytes?

Former Clinton aide Don Baer, former Ford spokesman Ron Nessen, former newsman Marvin Kalb, Brookings Institution author Stephen Hess, and former Bush spokesman Scott McClellan.

Oh now I understand.

Obama: The press-friendly President-elect!

By GottaLaff

P.E. Obama's the press-friendliest ever!

After giving two network television interviews and four press conferences, including three this week and another expected on Monday, since the Nov. 4 election, President-elect Barack Obama is on track to run one of the most press-friendly transitions in recent history.

From The Washington Times:

Mr. Obama has beat his four predecessors in number of post-election, pre-inauguration press conferences, and is inheriting a more troubled nation than any of those men. [...]

And not everybody is happy. Some outlets are upset that the transition has pre-selected the reporters Obama calls on at news conferences. Fishbowl DC points out that Fox News has yet to ask a question. [...]

The real test will be whether Obama maintains the increased level of press access after the inauguration — particularly in light of the fact that he follows arguably the most secretive administration in American history — but the early signs are encouraging.

Change we can believe in.