Eric Boehlert: Incoming Washington Post editor leaves behind an AP debacle

[babylonsister]

https://pressrun.media/p/incoming-washington-post-editor-leaves

Incoming Washington Post editor leaves behind an AP debacle
Caving in to GOP trolls
Eric Boehlert
1 hr ago

snip//

The episode is not only troubling for the AP, it’s also a problem for the Post, as it prepares for Buzbee’s arrival. The last thing the paper wanted during this key transition period, which followed an extensive, high-profile search for a new leader, was to be grappling with doubts about Buzbee’s leadership. But after watching the Winter debacle unfold last week at the AP, it’s impossible to not question the editor’s newsroom guidance. Post reporters must be wondering how many of them will soon be thrown under the bus by management if GOP activists target them with bogus claims of “bias.”

The stunning termination of Wilder came just 16 days after the Stanford University graduate was hired. Her AP bosses told her she had violated the company’s social media policy, although they would not detail how. Her college tweets became newsworthy when conservative news outlets, including Federalist, Washington Free Beacon, and Fox News, began highlighting them and accusing AP of having an anti-Israel bias. Note that the entry-level Wilder was working out of the AP’s Arizona bureau and her journalism output had nothing to do with the Middle East.

Wilder was initially assured that her previous tweets were not a problem and that the AP would stand by her, but was subsequently fired. The move came just days after the AP’s bureau in Gaza was bombed by the Israeli military as part of the May fighting that erupted in the Middle East. The Israeli government insisted the building housed Hamas operatives, but has not provided definitive proof in order to justify leveling the AP building. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) pointed to Wilder’s employment and tweeted, “Not a surprise from a media organization that shared office space with Hamas." He also suggested the AP colluded with Hamas and allowed reporters to be used as “human shields.”

It’s clear the AP found itself in the middle of a contentious, international national standoff when the Wilder story, and the manufactured claims of bias, began to gain traction. Rather than defend its targeted reporter, AP caved to the right-wing mob, thereby encouraging to take aim at more journalists in the future.

snip//

And soon, the AP’s executive editor will be taking over the Washington Post newsroom.

[jimfields33]

1. Unfortunately you can get fired for anything the first 90 days.

[Takket]

2. Surely this can't be the cancel culture

Because rethugs hate cancel culture. Right?