What’s the difference between your local “shopper” throwaway rag and the New York Times? Perhaps very little.

Using a widely-circulated internal memo obtained by the Radio Equalizer, we’re exploring whether Sunday’s glowing profile of Air America Radio’s Randi Rhodes and Rachel Maddow was the direct result of a corporate spin campaign.

Is this how a major newspaper should gather news? Or is it better suited for free grocery store throwaways?

In the memo, Jamie Horn of Air America’s PR department takes credit for successfully lobbying the paper to run the sorely-needed puff piece. Horn was then given virtual high-fives by the network’s executives.

Planned in September, it came just after NYT Public Editor Byron Calame confessed they’d dropped the ball on Air America’s Gloria Wise scandal coverage. Sure enough, the paper’s arrogant answer was to print more of what we call “Frankenfluff”.

When it comes to the Times, there’s a lot of public cynicism, but that doesn’t mean this should slide without a full examination.

See the full story at the Radio Equalizer.