Washingtonpost.com Defends Beck Column Because Readers Know "What He Is"

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201202230007

February 23, 2012 2:05 pm ET by Joe Strupp

WashingtonPost.com is standing by the decision to allow Glenn Beck to write a column for its On Faith blog in spite of his history of offensive comments and violent rhetoric, according to the site's top editor, Sally Quinn, who defended running the piece because readers know "who he is and what he is."

"When you run somebody like that, people already come to it knowing who he is and what he is," Quinn told Media Matters. "He represents a certain segment of society and he's got a following."

She also said it was On Faith that reached out to Beck, seeking his take on a religious issue for the site, which bills itself as a "Conversation on Religion and Politics."

Asked why the website would seek a view from a commentator with Beck's record, Quinn said, "He represents a huge segment of society and actually I thought that he had a sort of a unique take on the situation. We don't only run people we agree with or disagree with. We like to get all points of view. I didn't see that there was anything offensive about the column or controversial."

[spanone]

1. shame on them. a once great institution of news. no more.

they reached out to beck?

[tanyev]

2. Barking mad?

[gratuitous]

3. People know who Charles Manson is, too

And, like Glenn Beck, Manson often has a unique take on a situation. Unlike Beck, Manson doesn't already have a platform to publicize his view. Is Sally going to hand over some prime media real estate to Manson some time soon? Just to get all points of view, you understand.

Is Quinn that stupid, or does she have a very low estimation of her readership's intelligence?

[cyglet]

4. Yes, we know who and what he is

But my question is, why would you create such a partisan slant? To hire such an incendiary person calls into question your objectivity, which you'd think you'd hold dear as a respectable newspaper. That and you're pissing off half your readers...

[chieftain]

5. We all know who and what Sally Quinn is.

What we don't know is why what was once a great newspaper would give a person with her track record the stewardship of a blog on faith. I suppose after the election, the WAPO can have Callista moderate a blog on marital fidelity. And Sally could contribute, too.

[11 Bravo]

6. We also know who and what the Phelps clan (Westboro Baptist Church) is, Sally.

They represent a certain segment of society and they have a following. I eagerly await their contribution to what used to be a great newspaper.

[Gman]

7. He has a following so let's make money by milking bottom dwellers

Not we won't stoop to making money like that. We'd rather go out of business.

[tiny elvis]

8. represents a huge segment of society and had a sort of a unique take

resolves as
quinn hides her motives and dishonestly presses her agenda