I first learned the term ‘beat sweetener’ from libertarian press critic Jack Shafer. It’s a reporter’s technique for ingratiating himself with one official or another. Here’s a definition, from the Urban Dictionary:
(JOURNALISM) using flattery to gain access to sources. The phrase is usually used in the context of White House or Congressional press corps, who use fulsome praise of high-ranking officials whose favor they need. Usually, officials like to be publicly represented as magnificent, selfless, tireless public servants; in exchange for such blurbs, they may invite specific reporters to exclusive events, thereby boosting the reporter’s status.
It’s irritating when occasionally used, but imagine a world where it’s simply the conventional posture of the press. That would be a world where newspapers printed, exclusively, All the News That’s Fit to Bolster and Re-elect. Such a fasle, closed world would have harmonious relations between press and politician, but would produce foolish, third-tier policies that would ignore genuine problems in favor of officials’ self-promotion.
A community, such as a small town of 14,454, would slowly waste away on a diet like that.
