As Twitchy has reported, New York Post and Washington Examiner reporter and author Salena Zito has been fighting anonymous Twitter trolls who have accused her of misrepresenting the political affiliations of Trump voters she interviewed.
She first laid out her case in an epic Twitter thread, and on Monday she told her story in The New York Post, along with photos of her notes, transcripts of her interviews, and more.
"I don't report what I want to happen, or what I wish had happened," writes @SalenaZito. "I report what is happening. And the Twitter harassment isn't going to stop me." https://t.co/9FKixodGEl
— New York Post (@nypost) September 4, 2018
The idea that I owed anonymous trolls on Twitter an explanation for the straw-man argument they invented is utterly laughable. But soon enough two things happen. First, they swarm—these brave souls who like to anonymously harass women online prefer to do so in numbers. Second, partisan journalists looking for a scalp join in, which lends it credibility.
Soon the pile-on makes using Twitter miserable.
This is the sad state of American public and political discourse today. This is the state of social media.
In this piece @SalenaZito destroys the anonymous attacks against her with screenshots of transcripts, audio files, etc. She is owed an apology by everyone who spread slander about her; in particular her colleagues in the media. https://t.co/3cy2Bcs0nk
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
While her daughter was in labor, Salena dug through all of her records to clear her good name. She has done so. For all of their talk on the dangers of the war on the media, when one of their own colleagues was attacked by anonymous trolls, CNN's media team was silent.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
I guess they were too busy in this perpetual pissing match with Fox to cover this story. Weird how low trust has dipped. Inexplicable really
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
Tell me more about how you oppose Donald Trump because of his uncivility. pic.twitter.com/Wknm9hhEMo
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
In other news @SalenaZito is the nicest woman on the planet and we don’t deserve her.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
My husband spent hours going through audio files, transcripts, and more. The Post provided several examples of the evidence Salena has. What is shown is *far* from everything, it's the tip of the top of the iceberg. All of her editors stood by her for a reason. She's through AF.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
We lost our entire holiday weekend to anonymous trolls trying to destroy the life of a kind & honest 60-year old grandmother. So, no, I'm sorry, anonymous nasty trolls, you can go fuck yourselves with these "but what about…" questions. The case has been made quite convincingly.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) September 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/Cassiodorus5/status/1037130447778537473
I’ve been following @SalenaZito for some time, not as faithfully recently. And now, I am going to buy her book. Not as some show of support, although there is that, but because I have to start reading something longer than a tweet again. And, I like her.
— Catherine – I’m Totally CJ (@IOurpatio) September 5, 2018
Excellent read from @SalenaZito effectively rebutting attacks on her work. Read it in full.https://t.co/K24QKZOJli
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) September 5, 2018
.@SalenaZito takes down the Twitter trolls who, aided by the Huffington Post, tried to take her down. Convincing. https://t.co/3621CNbVAi
— Brit Hume (@brithume) September 5, 2018
I was sickened when they were lying and was sickened when a Weekly Standard writer chimed in.
I gave Salena the names of 3 MI women gun owners I knew. 2 of whom voted for Trump. Salena is genuine. ? https://t.co/UJZxlHFmnR— Sandy (@RightGlockMom) September 5, 2018
So all the trolls attacking @SalenaZito gonna shut up now, right? https://t.co/tH7MV9JCbi
— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) September 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/MimsRE/status/1037133142824497157
Related:
Those Salon conservatives are at it again, keeping the right-wing media in check; Salena Zito defended https://t.co/YqoWdngFYu
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 3, 2018
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