CNN’s exclusive report on the Russians possibly having compromising information about Donald Trump had convinced some that the inauguration couldn’t possibly take place as scheduled. An hour later, though, after reading a secret dossier on Trump published by BuzzFeed, people were joking about whether #GoldenShowers or #GoldenGate should be the trending hashtag.
When all the journalists say no, there's Buzzfeed.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 11, 2017
BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith shared on Twitter a memo sent to staffers explaining why the site had rushed out the dossier, noting (after publication) that there was “serious reason to doubt the allegations” contained in it and claiming BuzzFeed had been “chasing specific claims in this document for weeks.” Chasing, not catching, mind you.
We published the report making explosive but unverified allegations that Trump has deep ties to Russia https://t.co/1MxxelPlBs pic.twitter.com/p72JXPeeUi
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) January 10, 2017
Here's the note I sent to @buzzfeednews staff this evening pic.twitter.com/OcAloWzVzb
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 11, 2017
The damning information wasn’t new to many reporters who’d seen it shopped around during the campaign but chose to pass. Even Mother Jones’ David Corn, who leaked the secret Mitt Romney video, stayed clear.
1. For those asking, I didn't publish the full memos from the intelligence operative because I could not confirm the allegations.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 11, 2017
2. I believed it was fair & responsible to note that a credible source had provided FBI allegations of Moscow op to co-opt Trump.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 11, 2017
3. I accurately characterized the memos-this is important stuff-but didn't publish details. Even Donald Trump deserves journalistic fairness
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 11, 2017
Well, then.
https://twitter.com/FBillMcMorris/status/818988912504963073
Oh. It's BuzzFeed.
Nevermind.
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/sunnyright/status/818983934398726145
https://twitter.com/AmandaCarey1/status/818984328248049666
"Serious reason to doubt the allegations." That would have stopped them being published unverified in every newsroom I've ever worked in. pic.twitter.com/T2IefhdFQX
— Barry Malone (@malonebarry) January 11, 2017
The birth of fake news is a messy sight to behold. https://t.co/iOMwXMKTse
— Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) January 11, 2017
Not entirely sure that publishing the thing so many others had and passed on is “ferocious reporting” but ok. https://t.co/l9P0XP89zO
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 11, 2017
Also, @buzzfeedben admits they’ve been working to confirm story for “weeks" but unable to. This new publication standard is most interesting
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 11, 2017
As the great editors say, “work hard to confirm the story, but if you can’t, publish it and let the public decide.” https://t.co/wLe1VCDpQb
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 11, 2017
Would appreciate even more detail on the decision-making process for something this serious, unverified and volatile. https://t.co/Saf22lyHCF
— Jill Geisler (@JillGeisler) January 11, 2017
Struggling with the decision to publish unredacted version, complete with descriptions of Russian sources https://t.co/oT0KNDqvQz
— Julian Borger (@julianborger) January 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/digiphile/status/818980734849454081
"our journalism."
— Bob Owens (@bob_owens) January 11, 2017
If not for BuzzFeed publishing the memos, people would be more credulous about the CNN story than they are now. Memos seem thin.
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) January 11, 2017
You mean the Private Intelligence Reports funded by Clinton Donors? https://t.co/xg0cvek66m 15th Paragraph.
— ?? Afterseven ✝️ (@Afterseven) January 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/mschuermann/status/818986482371272704
https://twitter.com/Buddy_Combs/status/818982688765988869
I suspect they're hanging their hat on "As we noted in our story, there is serious reason to doubt…" https://t.co/RAKXItUstm
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) January 11, 2017
It’s kind of courageous to admit you’re spreading fake news. https://t.co/tu8PVgOqxF
— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) January 11, 2017
Even though the more salacious bits got the most play on social media, there were serious allegations in the dossier, including an allegation that Trump lawyer Michael Cohen had met with Russian operatives in Prague. Cohen’s response was to the point:
I have never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews pic.twitter.com/CMil9Rha3D
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) January 11, 2017
This is one of the few claims in the Trump dossier that seemed somewhat checkable: https://t.co/ljeCK64DWX
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 11, 2017
That loose end seemed easy enough to chase down.
https://twitter.com/DJscrubby/status/818980745351983104
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