“This was yet another blow to mainstream media and the confidence the American public has in it.”
CNN accepted the resignations of three journalists yesterday, Monday June 26. The three journalists, Thomas Frank, a Pulitzer finalist and the author of the story, Eric Lichtblau, a Pulitzer Prize winner and assistant managing editor in the CNN Washington bureau, and Lex Harris, who is head of CNN’s investigative unit, are all out of work as far as CNN is concerned. The resignations came after an attack story was published alleging a secret meeting between Anthony Scaramucci, a senior advisor to then President-Elect Trump, and Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian investment fund manager.
The story alleged the secret meeting between Scaramucci and Dmitriev dealt with Russian sanctions and said the Senate intelligence committee was looking into a January 16 discussion between the two men. The Russian Direct Investment Fund managed by Dmitriev guides investments by U.S. entities in Russia.
The story said that two Democratic senators wanted to know whether Scaramucci had indicated in the meeting whether sanctions against Russia would be lifted, a decision that could impact the investment fund. The truth of the matter is that Scaramucci exchanged pleasantries in a restaurant with Dmitriev, and no discussion of sanctions or anything else took place.
The story, posted on the network’s website on Thursday, was questioned almost immediately by people inside and outside CNN. One such news outlet that called the story and CNN to task was Breitbart News. It was removed with all links disabled Friday night. CNN immediately apologized to Anthony Scaramucci.
CNN determined that the story was posted without going through the expected checks and balances for a story of such sensitivity, an executive said. The failure to follow proper procedures is what led to the resignations. The news network said that it didn’t meet its editorial standards and has now instituted new procedures for the posting or publishing of any story dealing with Russia and President Trump.
This was yet another blow to mainstream media and the confidence the American public has in it. When networks become so agenda driven that they do not even attempt to fact check their stories, they lose the principles that are supposed to guide media operations.
Following the retraction, Scaramucci tweeted the following: “CNN did the right thing. Classy move. Apology accepted. Everyone makes mistakes. Moving on.”
This is not the first time CNN has tripped over its reporting, and President Trump has accused CNN of repeatedly publishing “fake news.”
Not long ago, CNN reported before testimony had even been given that former FBI Director James Comey would contradict Trump’s claims that he had told him that he wasn’t a target of the probe. In the testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, former Director Comey testified to the opposite, saying that he had, in fact, told the President he was not under investigation which is exactly what the President had said. Again, CNN got it wrong.
In a statement by Lex Harris following his resignation he said, “On Friday, CNN retracted a story published by my team. As Executive Editor of that team, I have resigned. I’ve been with CNN since 2001, and am sure about one thing: This is a news organization that prizes accuracy and fairness above all else. I am leaving, but will carry those principles wherever I go.”
Right now that statement rings a little hollow in my opinion.
