Your guide to the region's top events, mixed with some commentary about life, media, gossip and politics in Washington, DC.
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By
Harry Jaffe
How can the Washington Post keep readers and attract new ones? These questions have been confounding the Post for decades. Why, in a growing Washington region that’s both wealthy and well-educated, does the Post lose some 5 percent of its readers every year? The Post asks focus groups for answers; we put the question to Washingtonian readers in the June “Post Watch” column. Dozens replied. David from Northern Virginia wants more down home news: “Well, one of the possible reasons that the ‘hometown paper’ is declining is that while it does an outstanding job of national and international reporting, local news is still second class. . . Thursday’s Northern Virginia home-delivery edition Metro section was 8 pages—roughly 1.5 pages to Virginia news, 1.5 pages to Maryland, 1 page for DC, 1/2 page for weather, 2.5 pages of obits, and 1 page for advertising. “While Thursday has the local supplement, I think that people want local news 7 days a week . . . and if it is the Northern Virginia edition, I think that something more than 1.5 pages out of 8 would be appropriate. “Fifteen years ago I argued with the Sports editor about their coverage of community swim meets—the Post’s position was that it was a national paper and such reporting was too mundane. After many calls and a letter or two, the Post relented and began very good coverage. “So if there is a concern about a 225,000 subscriber drop, perhaps part of the problem is the lack of relevance to the day-to-day life of the local citizen.” My take: Dave has a point. The Post has set itself up to be the preeminent news outlet for international, national, and local news; it rarely masters all three. There was a time, even a decade ago, when the Post could commandeer all that terrain. That day has passed. If it gets one thing right day after day, it should be local news. And if people aren't getting local news from the Post then where are they turning?
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By
Sarah Ball
What: Christmas in June at Ford’s Theatre’s annual benefit gala and star-studded performance, filmed and slated to air as a ABC television special come December.
Where: A garland-swathed Ford’s Theatre; dinner followed at the National Building Museum, 401 F St., NW.
When: Sunday, June 24, 7 p.m. until late.
Who: Honorary chair Laura Bush, in festive red silk, and her presidential plus-one, who tapped his feet to belted carols courtesy of gospel legend Yolanda Adams and a hardly jolly Wynonna. Performers plucked from ABC’s airwaves included James Pickens of Grey’s Anatomy fame, comedian Christopher Titus and Dancing With The Stars vets Jonathan Roberts and Karina Smirnoff. Also up were Grammy-winner Jon Secada and Olivia Newton-John, whose reprise of roller-rink anthem “Xanadu” was a notable deviation from holiday fare (Perhaps a plug for the soon-to-debut musical version of the 1980 film?). No-shows were country headliner Rascal Flatts and comedian D.L. Hughley.
Food: Poached salmon, pea risotto and a summery watermelon salad beckoned from tables around a green-lit fountain in the National Building Museum’s ground-floor arcade. Dessert was a medley of all-American favorites like baked Alaska, chocolate cookies and generously proportioned coconut cake.
Drink: Open bar and circulating wine kept the dinner well-oiled; befitting the winter holidays, champagne was the tippler’s choice.
Scene: Reveling in the faux snow were well-heeled theatre trustees, gala chairs and benefit regulars—including Catherine Reynolds, Laura Reid, Abby Blunt, Chris and Kathleen Matthews, and the requisite slew of corporate underwriters. Immediately apparent was who had the inside scoop on the theme; those of us flashing our tans in light summer frocks and sandals felt a little duped next to all the camera-ready red cummerbund sets and unseasonable stoles.
Guests of honor Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Civil War historian James McPherson drew a standing ovation as they received the Lincoln Medal, Ford’s annually bestowed prize to honor embodiment of Lincolnian ideals. Still, the swish, high-octane vibe at the performance dissolved by dinner, owing to a comprehensive string of receptions and events that preceded it (a Saturday night reception under the Capitol’s rotunda and a Sunday evening party at the White House launched the event). Clumps of guests chatted up Newton-John and other lingering artists at the comparatively low-key dinner over drinks, and most jetted by 10:30 or so.
Ratings:
Boldface names: 4 (out of 5)
Swankiness: 4 (out of 5)
Food and drink: 4 (out of 5)
Exclusivity: 5 (out of 5)
Total score: 17 (out of 20)
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By
Harry Jaffe
How can the Washington Post keep readers and attract new ones? These questions have been confounding the Post for decades. Why, in a growing Washington region that’s both wealthy and well-educated, does the Post lose some 5 percent of its readers every year? In the June “Post Watch” column in The Washingtonian, I put the question to readers. Dozens replied. Michael from Baltimore, who owns Washington Post Company stock, offered a novel idea: “My suggestions as a 25 share investor are of course biased, but the entire community needs the Washington Post to continue to grow and serve. “1. Given that many families never have a newspaper around the house, and students can finish school without ever having a daily paper, I would ask that one day of every school year, or semester, be NEWSPAPER DAY, and that the Post donate a copy for every high school student to take home and discuss with family (if there is any family), and write a brief report on what sections family members find most interesting, and how many times a week or month do they read a newspaper (if at all), and offer a trial subscription for something like $5 for a month to a) increase circulation and b) introduce the concept of a daily paper into homes that heretofore considered only radio and TV as sources of information.” My take: Mike’s idea has merit. Rather than spend time and money on gimmicks like Post Points, the newspaper could offer partnerships with high schools. The end result would benefit students and help create the community of readers the Post seems to be losing. Maybe Mike should suggest this at the Post Company’s next annual meeting.
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By
Leslie Milk
The 80th birthday party for Nancy Reynolds, long-time lobbyist and Reagan family friend, brought out the Republican heavyweights.
Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney, former Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Joyce Rumsfield, Mike and Carolyn Deaver, Reagan attorney general Ed Meese and chief of staff Craig Fuller came to toast the glowing Reynolds, who was leaving the next morning for Africa. Rumsfeld seemed very relaxed and talked about heading off to the Eastern Shore, where both he and Cheney have second homes.
There were even a few Democrats sprinkled around the room—Reynolds’s former lobbying partner Ann Wexler, who served in the Carter White House; her son Dave, a Clinton aide; and lobbyist Michael Berman.
The party was held at Wexler & Walker, Reynolds’s old firm, hosted by Reynolds’s sons, Michael Reynolds and Kurt Wurzberger.
Reynolds will have a second birthday celebration in Morocco next week. Read below for pictures from the event.
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By
Shefali Kulkarni
What: This season's last Q&A Cafe session with owner, Carol Joynt
Where: Nathan’s of Georgetown 3150 M Street, NW
When: Thursday May 14, 12:30pm
Who: Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles and former editor of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker sitting across from Carol Joynt, and (dining with) Jack Nargil of the Hay Adams Hotel and Jim McCarthy of McCarthy Communications.
The Food: Seafood medley with bitter greens and raspberry sorbet with a mini cookie platter.
The Drink: Bar, mixed with numerous orders of ice tea.
The Scene: A room filled with die-hard Di-fans, reporters,as well as the Q&A regulars.
Tina Brown’s second visit to the Q&A Cafe revealed her ins and outs with the royal family. Brown appeared on "Charlie Rose" the night before, and after a few minutes of chatting with guests, she sat down with Joynt for an interview about her new book, Tony Blair, and the state of the newspaper industry. She just began her book tour, which is due to wrap up in London.
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By
Harry Jaffe
How can the Washington Post keep readers and attract new ones? These questions have been confounding the Post for decades. Why, in a growing Washington region that’s both wealthy and well-educated, does the Post lose some 5 percent of its readers every year?
In the June “Post Watch” column in The Washingtonian, I put the question to readers. Dozens replied. Benjamin from Alexandria had a few suggestions:
“I’d tell them to create some sort of membership structure, akin to the Kennedy Center or other non-profits, perhaps with membership levels tied to giving.
“I read the Washington Post online all the time, but I have no interest in being a subscriber under their current model. I have no need for a newspaper. They waste trees, the news is stale by the time its printed, they’re not searchable, they have no links, they’re unwieldy to read in pretty much any manner but particularly while traveling.
“I love the content and the writing, though; I would gladly send the Post some sort of money every month if there were means to do so, just for allowing me to read online. I even e-mailed them once, asking if there was a way to contribute. Barbara Buchanan of Customer Care was evidently so confused that in repeating washingtonpost.com content was free and there was no need to send money, she misspelled “Washington.” I gave up.”
This, of course, is the nightmare scenario that robs Don Graham, Bo Jones, Len Downie, and Phil Bennett of sleep. Literate readers “love the content,” but they don’t love it enough to buy the newspaper. Benjamin’s “membership structure” might help the Post connect with readers, as it is attempting to do with the “Post Points” gimmick. What happened to attracting readers with news? And the notion of making the Post a charity case—as if it were a nonprofit media outlet—is a hoot, but it won’t pay the bills.
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