As Twitchy recently reported, a star reporter for Germany’s Der Spiegel resigned after it was revealed that several of his interviews were fabricated. And yes, Americans should be concerned, because CNN Journalist of the Year Claas Relotius had a keen eye for things that made Americans look bad, like a totally fabricated “Mexicans Keep Out” sign or a fake interview with Colin Kaepernick’s parents.
Journalist who mocked Trump supporters in fabricated story admits: "I’m sick" https://t.co/DPYdVs7WFT
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 22, 2018
U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell called out Der Spiegel on its fake news:
. @DerSPIEGEL says they don’t have any anti-American bias. But the facts tell a different story. Below are only a few examples. @sefi99 #spiegelgate pic.twitter.com/zf5uraPoqD
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 21, 2018
Sadly, you could make a similar collage with TIME magazine covers, and many have.
An apology to the communities and individuals whose stories he falsified would be great too. Glad this is finally out, but the damage is hard to reverse. Maybe @DerSPIEGEL could make it up to #fergusfalls by doing a new story about who we really are. https://t.co/iUkWDoiYLH
— Michele Anderson (@micheleeamn) December 19, 2018
We value policy criticism. We love a free press. But @Spiegel literally fabricated stories saying people (Americans) were racist & xenophobic. They made up events, details, & lies – and no editor checked the stories. Every real journalist should be outraged by this. https://t.co/CVlSqgXIQe
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 22, 2018
"Stop defending fake news and fabricated stories, that fit your world view."
We do.
Do you?
— Andreas Kynast (@andikynast) December 22, 2018
I’m not a journalist. I’m an advocate. I thought you were a journalist. https://t.co/TP1bqJy5UG
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 22, 2018
I thought it applies to everyone. To journalists, advocates, ambassadors and even presidents: Thou Shalt Not Lie.
— Andreas Kynast (@andikynast) December 22, 2018
Of course. But you changed the subject. We were talking about bias from journalists. Reporters who lie about their objectivity. Journalists aren’t supposed to be advocates for partisan ideologies. https://t.co/F9U4ND4Yb5
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 22, 2018
Hey look, more fake news! From Der Spielgel!
US Ambassador to Berlin Richard Grenell writes letter to Spiegel magazine suggesting journalists should call US Embassy before they start writing.
I dunno. https://t.co/dp3uiFk5yG
— C. Stelzenmüller (@ConStelz) December 22, 2018
Nope. Not true. Be accurate. We simply suggest reporters who write about us actually call us for reaction. https://t.co/XacXiPUh4d
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 22, 2018
Instead of just making stuff up? Sounds fair.
Grenell also received some praise for his work reigning in anti-Americanism (and anti-Semitism) in Germany. Benjamin Weinthal writes for The Jerusalem Post:
In my 17 years of reporting on and analyzing Germany, @RichardGrenell has done more to rope in anti-Americanism within Germany than any other US official. Important work because anti-Americanism is frequently linked with antisemitism. See the philosopher Hannah Arendt's work.
— Benjamin Weinthal (@BenWeinthal) December 22, 2018
Agreed
— Herb Glatter (@herbyg72) December 22, 2018
Can you give us an example of him doing that?
— Noah K (@StLeibowitz) December 22, 2018
— Benjamin Weinthal (@BenWeinthal) December 22, 2018
Grennell/Dan Crenshaw 2024
— DarwinSubspeciest (@donderoen) December 22, 2018
Not the worst idea we’ve heard …
Related:
Fake news: CNN’s one-time Journalist of the Year resigns after admitting to inventing interviews https://t.co/I62LbuxcbQ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 19, 2018
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