Newsweek publishes expos about itself after staff firings

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Earlier this month, the staff at Newsweek magazine descended into chaos.

Two of the magazine’s top editors — editor in chief Bob Roe and executive editor Kenneth Li — were abruptly dismissed, along with reporter Celeste Katz. Multiple reporters resigned in protest. The trio was fired as they were in the midst of pursuing an investigative story into the financial ties of Newsweek’s parent company, the Newsweek Media Group.

Despite the firings, a group of staff journalists continued reporting on the company’s finances. And late Tuesday night, their exposé was published, revealing a deep financial relationship between the parent company and a small Christian school, Olivet University.

...snip...

According to CNN and the Daily Beast, company executives attempted to stall and even block the story from publication. Several reporters and editors threatened to quit if the piece wasn’t published. A “bloody battle” ensued between the journalists and executives, until ultimately the company’s CEO, Dev Pragad, allowed the team to publish their story without interference Tuesday night, CNN reported.



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/21/newsweek-staffers-say-they-were-fired-for-reporting-on-the-companys-finances-their-story-just-published/?utm_term=.d3ca28c3e195

[Hortensis]

1. 2014 Mother Jones: Newsweek and Olivet University

Who's Behind Newsweek?
https://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/03/newsweek-ibt-olivet-david-jang/

[Hortensis]

2. Today, Newsweek: Manhattan DA, Newsweek, ties to Olivet.

WHY IS THE MANHATTAN DA LOOKING AT NEWSWEEK’S TIES TO A CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY?
http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-manhattan-da-olivet-university-david-jang-fired-new-york-media-813949

Before this story comes this:

Note from the Editors: As we were reporting this story, Newsweek Media Group fired Newsweek Editor Bob Roe, Executive Editor Ken Li and Senior Politics Reporter Celeste Katz for doing their jobs. Reporters Josh Keefe and Josh Saul were targeted for firing before an editor persuaded the company to reverse its decision. As we continued working on the story, we were asked to take part in a review process which, we ultimately learned, involved egregious breaches of confidentiality and journalism ethics. We believe that subjects of the story were shown parts of the draft, if not the entire piece, prior to publication by a company executive who should not have been involved in the process. At an on-the-record interview with the subjects of this story, a company official asked editors to identify confidential sources. On-the-record sources were contacted and questioned about their discussions with Newsweek Media Group reporters. We resisted their efforts to influence the story and, after learning of the review’s ethical failings, the reporters and editors involved in this story felt they would be forced to resign. At that point, a senior Newsweek Media Group executive said the company's owners would ensure independent review and newsroom autonomy going forward. This story was written and edited Tuesday, free of interference from company executives.

Signed: Dayan Candappa, Nancy Cooper, Cristina Silva, Ross Schneiderman, Michael Mishak, Josh Keefe, Josh Saul.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Kick (nt)