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-Short Attention Span Theater-
White House reporter axed for risking historic prisoner swap
2024-08-07
[RT] Bloomberg staff have reportedly been reprimanded for prematurely breaking the news of a US-Russia exchange.

Bloomberg News has reportedly dismissed one of its journalists and taken disciplinary action against other staff members, after the outlet reported on a historic US-Russia prisoner swap before it was completed.

A total of 26 people were exchanged last week following lengthy negotiations that also involved Germany and Belarus, in the biggest event of its kind since the Cold War. Bloomberg News sparked outrage in the US journalistic corps by releasing its report while a plane carrying freed detainees was on its way from Russia to Türkiye. The media had reportedly been asked by the US government to break the news only after the prisoners had been handed over.

Editor-in-chief John Micklethwait reportedly addressed the incident in an email to the Bloomberg newsroom on Monday, saying the mishap “could have endangered the negotiated swap”.

“Even if our story mercifully ended up making no difference, it was a clear violation of the editorial standards which have made this newsroom so trusted around the world,” he wrote, according to the text of the message circulated by journalists online. Micklethwait said that following an investigation, the outlet has “taken disciplinary action against a number of those involved”.

He said he has written apology letters to each of the prisoners returned from Russia, and also contacted Emma Tucker, his counterpart from The Wall Street Journal, to apologize to her. WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was sentenced in Russia to a prison term for espionage, was one of the American citizens released under the deal.

Bloomberg’s senior White House reporter, Jennifer Jacobs, who co-bylined the story about the exchange, was fired by the news agency this week, according to multiple reports. She issued a statement on social media, distancing herself from what happened.

”In reporting the story about Evan’s release, I worked hand in hand with my editors to adhere to editorial standards and guidelines,” she wrote. “At no time did I do anything that was knowingly inconsistent with the administration’s embargo or that would put anyone involved at risk ,” she added, referring to Washington’s request.
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Posted by:Skidmark

#4  The media had reportedly been asked by the US government to break the news only after the prisoners had been handed over.

Fall Guy for Brandon being Brandon?

"Try another Subtraction sum. Take a bone from a dog: what remains?" [asked the Red Queen] Alice considered. "The bone wouldn't remain, of course, if I took it-and the dog wouldn't remain; it would come to bite me-and I'm sure I shouldn't remain!" "Then you think nothing would remain?" said the Red Queen. "I think that's the answer." "Wrong, as usual," said the Red Queen, "the dog's temper would remain."
Posted by: swksvolFF   2024-08-07 17:47  

#3  Good point NN2N1
Posted by: mossomo   2024-08-07 13:34  

#2  HUMMMM?And I thought articles were only published after editorial review and approval.
Posted by: NN2N1   2024-08-07 06:57  

#1  The problem was leaking a true story…. False story leaks are still encouraged.
Posted by: Airandee   2024-08-07 06:41  

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