Politico’s Mike Allen on Monday morning apologized for an email recently surfaced by Gawker in which the reporter promised to provide Chelsea Clinton with the questions ahead of a proposed interview.
Allen, who writes Politico’s tip sheet “Playbook,” sent an email to Hillary Clinton aide Philippe Reines in January 2013 offering a “no risk” interview with Chelsea Clinton, according to Gawker. The email read:
This would be a way to send a message during inaugural week: No one besides me would ask her a question, and you and I would agree on them precisely in advance. This would be a relaxed conversation, and our innovative format (like a speedy Playbook Breakfast) always gets heavy social-media pickup. The interview would be “no-surprises”: I would work with you on topics, and would start with anything she wants to cover or make news on. Quicker than a network hit, and reaching an audience you care about with no risk.
The report prompted concern from other journalists that Allen would offer questions ahead of time and promise “no surprises.”
Politico editor Susan Glasser told Gawker, “We didn’t end up doing any interview with Chelsea Clinton and we have a clear editorial policy of not providing questions to our guests in advance.”
Allen apologized in “Playbook” on Monday and said he has never provided questions ahead of time.
Read his full apology:
MY BAD! You may have missed a Gawker post last week that rightly took me to task for something clumsy I wrote in an email to Philippe Reines in 2013, seeking an interview with Chelsea Clinton at a POLITICO brunch. In the email, I said I’d agree to the questions in advance. I have never done that, and would never do that. POLITICO has a policy against it, and it would make for a boring event. As you know from attending our events (or can tell by clicking on any of the videos on our website), they’re spontaneous, conversational and news-driven. Without stunts or grandstanding, we challenge guests to address newsworthy topics, and to be original, relevant and revelatory. A scripted back-and-forth would be a snore.
We didn’t do the interview with Chelsea Clinton, and would never clear our questions. But the email makes me cringe, because I should never have suggested we would. We retain full, unambiguous editorial control over our events and questioning. My bond with readers and newsmakers is built on knowing I don’t pull punches. So I wanted to share my take on this, and make sure our policy is clear.
