BuzzFeed editor in chief Ben Smith is having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad day. And we’ve gotta say, it’s pretty much all his fault.
After running full-throttle with a sketchy report based on evidence that its co-authors may or may not have seen (depending on whom you ask), Smith pitched a snit-fit decrying all the criticism he and BuzzFeed are getting today:
.@BuzzFeedBen on Trump supporters' attacks on BuzzFeed News and its reporters: "That is the last and weakest resort when you don't have anything else to say." pic.twitter.com/yjxgqhZPlH
— AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM) January 18, 2019
Actually, it’s not just Trump supporters who are calling BuzzFeed out today. Even CNN’s Oliver Darcy — yes, that one — is pointing out that report co-author Jason Leopold has a pretty significant credibility problem:
—@JasonLeopold and @a_cormier_ have scored a number of scoops for BuzzFeed on the Trump Tower Moscow project. But the intense attention has also resurfaced Leopold's checkered past. My story: https://t.co/yuIXpkM2Vg
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 18, 2019
Well, given Smith’s pissy mood, it should come as no surprise that he took offense at Darcy’s choice of words as well:
"Resurfaced" is really the laziest word in journalism. This is an … adequate clip job, but CNN should change the headline and go do some reporting. https://t.co/gz7tNhUvzS
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 18, 2019
And if anyone knows about lazy journalism, it’s the editor in chief of BuzzFeed. Has he read his site, like, ever?
100% agree re “resurfaced”. We see it all the time when outlets dig up someone’s old controversial social media posts.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) January 18, 2019
You mean outlets like, say, BuzzFeed?
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 18, 2019
Editor-in-Chief of BuzzFeed Criticizes BuzzFeed pic.twitter.com/XyOtAseWle
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 18, 2019
And how about this?
This @buzzfeedben tweet just resurfaced… pic.twitter.com/tkcn9pBF1o
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) January 18, 2019
Always so awkward when that happens.
— BZ54 (@Beezy54_) January 18, 2019
They never think the rules will apply to them.
— Patrick Henry,The2nd (@patrickhenry2nd) January 18, 2019
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional text and a tweet.
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