Ombudsmen, the Internal Affairs officers of journalism, should be feared and respected—but mostly: feared—by their respective publications. It's their job. The New York Times' Clark Hoyt? Quickly going soft. The Washington Post's Andrew Alexander? Pussywhipped. What's happening here?

Recently the Washington Post has taken a beating for attempting to sell access to its newsroom via fancy, elistist "salons." The New York Times has been positively giddy over it. Now the Post's ombudsman has spoken.