Remember how we just did a post about a Washington Post reporter using Twitter to find new gun owners to interview for a story she’s working on?
Matt Dornic, head of strategic communications for CNN worldwide, has really dropped a bombshell here. He’s caught Fox News media reporter Brian Flood using LinkedIn to find people to comment on a story he’s working on … probably about CNN.
After all these years of covering CNN, Brian still has to troll LinkedIn for anonymous quotes (from employees of literally any department) to use in his hit pieces. We’ve been forwarded over a dozen of these in the past 24 hours. ? pic.twitter.com/P0LwYf6mkK
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) February 3, 2021
Lol pic.twitter.com/4VorRvDYKW
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) February 3, 2021
Scandalous!
Calm down.
— I got your #Unity right here (@jtLOL) February 3, 2021
You pay @oliverdarcy to do exactly this
— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing (@obiopiah) February 3, 2021
That's normal for a journalist—or someone working for a journalistic outlet—to do. This, however, is not: https://t.co/JEBIQJSRBc
— arya hodjat (@arya_kidding_me) February 3, 2021
Lmao I forgot that he thought our foes would be scared that we have fireworks.
— Alex (@Alex_Z_01) February 3, 2021
I had no idea this was frowned upon. https://t.co/kjnZHoDlBN
— Greg Nasif (@gregnasif) February 4, 2021
There’s nothing wrong with these messages. (Other than I doubt they work.)
— Amir Efrati (@amir) February 3, 2021
just gonna add to the chorus here and say that this is how people do journalism. i have no love for fox news, but this is a standard practice for journalists who are reporting on an organization.
— peter hess (@PeterNHess) February 3, 2021
Okay… so he was doing diligent reporting. I don't see the problem.
— ?️? ?? Seanathan Iman Dupree (@SeayonceKnows) February 3, 2021
Hilarious but unsurprising that a @CNN employee is shocked at people doing actual journalism.
— Enlibriated (@Enlibriated) February 3, 2021
Not commenting on the substance of his stories, but this is how I use LinkedIn all the time. I feel like you're sending the wrong message about how journalism works and what many journalists do to get sources. It's probably not helpful for your journalist colleagues either.
— Dylan Martin (@DylanLJMartin) February 3, 2021
Agreed. The key is to make sure we as journalists reach out to the right people who can contribute to a healthy conversation.
— Joe “Joe Kovar” Kovar (@ChannelWritrGuy) February 3, 2021
Congratulations on being introduced to journalism.
— Drumpf Micropenis (@Dons_Angry_Inch) February 3, 2021
Put the pearls down you’ll be ok.
— earl joe beans (@DonDimble) February 4, 2021
I mean, this is often how getting a source works.
— Naveed Jamali (@NaveedAJamali) February 3, 2021
Media reporter messages possible media sources offering to talk to them. Shocking stuff here. https://t.co/pkVsKnd8wj
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 3, 2021
It's just asking for comment dude, I mean you work at a news network, presumably you should know how this works?
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) February 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/dogheadbone_llc/status/1357055803329544192
How do you think journalism works?
— Kim Janssen (@kimjnews) February 3, 2021
This is called shoe-leather journalism.
— There’s No “I” in Teamocil (@marylanestrow) February 3, 2021
Love the fact that CNN’s comms strategy is trashing reporters at other outlets, great stuff guys
— Rick (@PersistentSeekr) February 3, 2021
That’s all anyone at CNN does, apparently.
I’m all for dumping on Fox News because of their normally terrible reporting and disinformation spreading… but, uh, what’s is wrong with a reporter reaching out to interview people?
This is like reporting 101…
— Kris Siegel (@KrisSiegel) February 3, 2021
As a major news media outlet, CNN has a responsibility to not rally against reporters doing their job. Accepting scrutiny from other journalists – even when you don’t approve of their methods or reporting – supports press freedom in general and your co-workers’ future.
— Gustav Gatu (@gustavgatu) February 3, 2021
Uh…am I missing something here? This is literally journalism
— Luke Halpert (@iamlukehalpert) February 3, 2021
From LinkedIn:
"Find and contact the right sources, stay updated on trends, find valuable insights, and build readership with our LinkedIn for Journalists program"
Sounds like he's doing it right, not wrong.
— Political Punk (@nowaypolitics) February 3, 2021
Should I forward you queries I get from CNN media reporters who want to know stuff about my workplace or is that bad, in your mind?
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) February 3, 2021
Broke: reporters politely contacting potential sources for interviews
Woke: mocking reporters for requesting interviews
Bespoke: dragging reporters on social media for politely asking potential sources for interviews
— Jack Bristow (@JackBristow9802) February 3, 2021
Good try. Tweet it again when there's evidence he actually did something inappropriate.
— Justice Barrington (@JusticeBarring1) February 3, 2021
CNN definitely does not intentionally craft narratives.
— Scott Ellerin (@ScottEllerin) February 3, 2021
Get a real job.
— Dr. Max Nordau (@MaxNordau) February 3, 2021
I don’t see anything wrong with this. No demands, no threats, nothing. If you don’t want to talk with him just don’t respond.
— Ruthlessly Sarcastic (@UsualySarcastic) February 3, 2021
Why are you trying to be the behind-the-camera Darcy?
— Will Nye (@willfnye) February 3, 2021
Anonymous quotes are no longer good for you guys?
— Dad Ayup (@Dadbyup) February 3, 2021
Congratulations! You just won the @Twitter Douchebag of the Day award!
— Select O Speed (@SelectSpeed) February 3, 2021
This is just dumb. What a ?.
— Dr. Chudi (@Muzines) February 3, 2021
Fox News is terrible and I’m sure this guy sucks too, but you literally do PR for an outlet that is entertainment TV masquerading as a news channel. There are very few people with a combination of profession and employer less qualified to speak about journalism than you.
— Connor (@ConnorPHolt) February 3, 2021
After platforming a seditious insurrectionist the night of the Capitol attack, after whitewashing Andrew Cuomo's disgusting lies for a year, & employing a legal analyst, Jennifer Rodgers, that doesn't understand the 1st Amendment, I can see why you'd embarrass yourself like this.
— Paul Lynd (@allyallpaul) February 3, 2021
I know it might be foreign to you but… this is basic journalism.
— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) February 3, 2021
— Kate (@northwoodsmom22) February 3, 2021
This is actual journalism where you ask actual sources to speak about something they know.
What’s troubling is that @cnn is shocked to see it because they just make up quotes. https://t.co/gaDIiANfoT
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 3, 2021
I obviously don't know what the story is here or how this particular reporter planned to use any information he received, but yes, it is normal to offer to speak with workers about their employer on background or off record.
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) February 3, 2021
No, wait, everyone, you’re misunderstanding his gripe:
It’s not that flood sends these fishing emails indiscriminately to folks with tangential relationships and no info about the stories he’s covering, it’s that his stories are always full of lies and dishonestly framed.
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) February 3, 2021
Dude. You’re CNN.
Take a seat.
— Davis (@GIass_Onion) February 3, 2021
Nothing scandalous here, other than you are a bit of a jerk to post this.
— Black, White & Grey (@NBfromLB) February 3, 2021
CNN employs only the finest and most unbiased media reporters in Oliver Darcy and Brian Stelter. Wonder where Stelter found his anonymous sources for his hit book on Fox News?
Related:
Sure, BLAME US! Brian Flood triggers CNN with Brian Stelter headline so BADLY they b*tch about Twitchy https://t.co/flK86NutQI
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 22, 2018
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