"This is Karen Ryan, Media Roadkill"

Poor Karen Ryan. She is a PR professional, with her own company called Karen Ryan Group Communications. All she did was represent the White House, sold their story on the Medicare drug benefits and sent out videos to TV News organizations telling the story and signed off "In Washington, I am Karen Ryan reporting."

A New York Times editorial called the videos "plugs for the controversial new drug program the White House is selling to elderly voters." The General Accounting Office started looking into the way the government was funding propaganda (a violation of law.)

Pressthink has a very good discussion of the issue. Also, the Colombia Journalism Review interviewed Ms. Ryan and reported it on their blog.

Yeah, Karen Ryan has become Media Roadkill in behalf of the White House's efforts to keep the Press from learning about and reporting on what the administration is doing to America. But she clearly volunteered for the job, and I am sure she was very well-paid. She earned what she got. Certainly more than 30 pieces of sliver.