General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsExcellent NYT editorial breakdown of what Buzzfeed and CNN tried to do
and what would have worked better:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2017/01/11/was-buzzfeed-right-to-publish-accusations-against-donald-trump
BuzzFeed Let Trump Cast a Shadow of Doubt on All Reporting
By publishing an unverified report alleging the Russians have compromising information on President-elect Donald J. Trump, BuzzFeed made it less likely that truth will be journalists' only goal and less likely that when the truth surfaces, the public will believe it.
In his news conference on Wednesday morning, Trump conflated the work of BuzzFeed and CNN, although they were very different forms of reporting. He started by complimenting all the newsrooms that did not post the document, criticizing those who did without initially naming them, and suggesting that the reason for keeping it out of public view is because it is fake news.
Had BuzzFeed taken a different approach, the story today would be that intelligence officials were seriously concerned about the report.
To the untrained eye, it looked like he was making friends with the media by patting them on the back for doing the right thing by ignoring that ludicrous rumor that the Russians have a sex tape.
Heres what really happened: BuzzFeed posted the dossier, noting that it was unverified and even highly problematic, about two hours after CNN began informing its viewers that the report existed, who had seen it and what the possible implications were to Trumps ability to run the country.
Those are two distinct acts, with BuzzFeed merely showing its cards to the public, and CNN trying to build context and meaning through reporting and analysis.
But by lumping the two newsrooms together, Trump was able to cast the shadow of doubt on all the reporting that journalists are doing on the dossier. Now, anyone who might have been genuinely curious about the truth has reason to stop listening. If you hate Trump, you automatically assume its true. And if you love him, you assume this is one more example of unfair reporting.
Had BuzzFeed taken a different approach, the story today would be that senior intelligence officials were concerned enough about the report to brief the outgoing and incoming president. The follow-up stories would address how Americas senior most leaders were responding.
Instead, BuzzFeed said it wanted to give its readers the opportunity to decide for themselves. So now were all engaged in a charade of Spy Kids, trying to determine if the information is likely true or false. Yet average citizens dont have the tools to sort through these claims.
But the most damaging result of BuzzFeeds unfortunate decision is Trumps newfound weapon to dismiss all journalists who criticize him as unfair and unethical. In painting the entire news media as a caricature of BuzzFeed, he undermines the efficacy of solid reporting and legitimate criticism. The president-elect is doing his best to diminish the role of journalism in our democracy. He doesnt need any help.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Buzzfeed get slammed too, wonderful.
flamingdem
(39,321 posts)if they gave the context correctly. They said some details could be wrong, I believe, at least this is what I read yesterday.
ElkeH
(105 posts)It is all about intimidation. He is trying to make the press think twice about what they report.
Actually I think the same goes for anyone who opposes him. Some think his outbursts are a sign of weakness but I think the ultimate goal is to try to silence his opponents through intimidation. He knows his legion of hateful minions will back him up.
flamingdem
(39,321 posts)That is going to drive news organizations crazy.
Docreed2003
(16,875 posts)This is just the natural progression of that and it will be his MO for the remainder of his time as president. Any story that is printed which paints him in a bad light will immediately be dismissed as "fake news". This is dangerous territory we are treading on where Brietbart is proclaimed as "real news" and actual journalism is bullied into submission. The right squeals over the 2nd amendment but they seem all to ready to squelch the 1st in the name of power. Unfortunately, many news sources are already bowing down to Heir Orange Julius instead of critically covering him, all in the name of access.
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)The linked article addresses the BuzzFeed article from two directions--pro and con. I tend to favor the former. News outlets failed miserably on their own throughout the campaigns. Trump has tried to dismiss the importance of the press from the beginning of his campaign. Let the press step up now and do their job. Now we know what's on the line. The hardcore Trump trolls will never believe, but, remember, we outnumber them. Look at yesterday's Quinnipiac poll.
flamingdem
(39,321 posts)so I'd side with them but understand traditional journalists look down their noses at this.
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)at a great many traditional journalists after this past year. Chuck Todd? Puh-leeze! I'm certainly not a "100% transparency required" person. For instance, in no way do I think Podesta's emails were fair game as, say, Glenn Greenwald has argued. But journalism has tilted so far to the right, that after hearing these documents had kicked around the IC, Congress, European capitals, and a number of newsrooms for so many months, I think we can handle seeing them.
marybourg
(12,634 posts)wife, in an inevitably vain attempt to prevent a man with every detestable trait and no redeeming ones from lying, defrauding, defaming and ultimately destroying our country and possibly the planet. He is so powerful that his is the only voice that is heard. This is what I'm taking away from much of the news this evening.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)The press should not become obsessed with any one story or personality.
They should continue to do their job and give the people the information they need.
They need to keep the people informed, no matter how uncomfortable they may feel.
Tell the truth and give 'em hell.
We need a free press.
mulsh
(2,959 posts)read this article from the Guardian.
[link:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/12/intelligence-sources-vouch-credibility-donald-trump-russia-dossier-author?CMP=fb_us|
And especially pray there are better investigative journalists out there employed by other medial outlets.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)It was a disaster. That editor's note from Buzzfeed was cringeworthy. From what I was able to watch on CNN, the network spent the whole night defending themselves. The other networks, especially the NBC networks, were basking in the glow of praise from orange one, patting themselves on the back for not being CNN/Buzzfeed. DT has serious problems with conflicts of interest and his failing nominees, yet CNN muddled the issue by forcing a discussion of journalistic ethics and "fake news" debates. It would have been much better to sit on this information until it could be corroborated.
Honestly, watching that press conference yesterday, it felt like the death knell for the entire profession of journalism. It had already been dying from the corporate takeovers and rightward creep (MSNBC).