washingtonpost.com Launches Unique Serialized Report

WASHINGTON, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- washingtonpost.com, the award-winning news and information Web site synonymous with the world of politics, today posted the first installment of the serialized story "Citizen K Street" about the influential lobbyist Gerald Cassidy, written by Washington Post associate editor and long-term Beltway insider, Robert Kaiser. "Citizen K Street" is available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/citizenkstreet.

For thirty years, Gerald Cassidy has been one of the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. Cassidy overcame an impoverished and tumultuous childhood to become a lawyer on former Senator George McGovern's staff. Then he turned to lobbying. He is widely known as the inventor of the modern earmarked appropriation, changing how Washington works and amassing him a fortune in the process.

"Citizen K Street" debuted in yesterday's Washington Post, highlighting Cassidy's life in "newsreel" fashion. The series has moved to the Web, where twenty-five chapters will run, Monday through Friday, over the next five weeks. The 25 installments trace the history of Cassidy and his firm, revealing details about the lobbying business rarely, if ever, seen by the public. It is a story of backroom deals, power struggles, personalities, maneuvers in congress and in business. Readers will learn how the world of big-money lobbying really works and how it has transformed the nation's capitol city.

"'Citizen K Street' is more than a biography of an important Washington power broker," Kaiser said. "It is a return to long-form investigative journalism that uncovers thirty years of hidden history and breaks down boundaries of traditional political reporting, hopefully giving readers a unique glimpse into the world of lobbying."

The series is reminiscent of the days of radio or movie serials but with new modern twists. Between chapters, washingtonpost.com will present a range of compelling multimedia features, such as video interviews with Gerald Cassidy, whose comments add texture to Kaiser's text and give site visitors a virtual immersion into this amazing story. In addition, interviews with other key players in the story, archival footage of Cassidy and internal documents from Cassidy's firm will be included on the site.

"This is an excellent example of how the Washington Post's high-quality journalism can be showcased and enhanced online," said Jim Brady, executive editor, washingtonpost.com. "In addition to a seasoned reporter telling a story, we are letting our users in on his sources -- letting them hear, see and experience for themselves. These elements have allowed us to really leverage the power of Web-based multimedia technology to provide a unique platform from which to revive long-form reporting."

Kaiser spent nearly two years developing this one-of-a-kind story. After gaining total access to all of the principals in the Cassidy story, he has produced a compelling and rich narrative that reads like a drama and is much more than a traditional newspaper series.

About Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI) is the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company . Its mission is to create truly interactive platforms that offer unmatched user experiences by developing editorial products with world-class reporting and award-winning content.

WPNI's news and information sites, which include washingtonpost.com, Slate, Newsweek.com and Budget Travel Online, inform and encourage conversation and debate while reaching millions of unique and active users each month. WPNI properties' long lists of awards include the first-ever Emmy for original video journalism online awarded to washingtonpost.com.

The company is headquartered in Arlington, VA.