by Lee Williams
Journalism is not a science. It is nothing more than telling good stories. Mistakes can and do happen all too often.
Back in the day, more than a half-dozen people would actually read a newspaper story before it was published—the reporter, several editors, copy editors, even pressmen and more—but mistakes still occurred.
A reporter at one of my former newspapers once wrote a story that mentioned a former state governor who the reporter said had passed away. This was news to the former governor, who was living in Arizona. He called our executive editor and was definitely less than thrilled by our mistaken coverage.
Today, some reporters write live on their websites, and their editors wish they had minor problems to deal with—like an undead governor—rather than what they have to deal with now.
One of today’s most serious problems is simple but hard to stop. It has become all too easy for someone to influence their organization’s coverage to satisfy their own personal political beliefs. Staffing has been extremely reduced, especially editors, so they likely won’t get caught, at least not for a while.
To be clear, these are not mistakes or errors. The guilty parties deserve much more than any loss of pay. These are calculated moves by would-be journalists who believe they’re political views are the best, and that they should be shared with their readers.
The Washington Examiner is a successful conservative news site, which draws 4 million online viewers per month, in addition to 40,000 people who subscribe to its weekly print magazine. Even though it leans to the right, the left’s media critics rate the Washington Examiner as factual in its reporting. That, friends, is a big deal.
Jenny Goldsberry is a young reporter at the Washington Examiner. She covers social media and trending news. Born in Utah, she graduated Brigham Young University in 2020 with a degree in communications.
On Monday, Goldsberry published a story titled: “Gun safety group revamps website on firearm storage to ‘end family fire.’” Most of her story was cut and pasted from a press release, which was sent by the anti-gun group known as Brady.
Brady wanted credit for creating another website, which it falsely believes “provides users with a self-assessment that can help them draft a personalized firearms storage policy.”
Goldsberry used a good portion of Brady president Kris Brown’s comments, which she took from the press release.
“Whether it’s for a longtime gun owner who needs a reminder to reconsider storage amid life or household changes or a new gun owner who is not yet aware of storage risks and options, EndFamilyFire.org provides personalized guidance so everyone can feel informed on the best way to safely store their firearms,” she quoted Brown as saying from the press release.
Brady’s website promises to provide personal information to its users, a “personalized secure gun storage assessment.”
After I told it I was a military veteran, it spit out veteran suicide information: “Most Veteran suicides happen at home, often with a gun that was easily accessible. Keeping firearms locked can give someone time to reconsider and get help. It may even save a life.”
That is sick, really sick.
Goldsberry’s story was not well received by the firearm community. In fact, more than a few longtime gun rights experts raised an eyebrow and wanted to know exactly why one of the country’s best conservative newspapers was publishing anti-gun stories, from Brady no less.
I emailed Goldsberry, and she called me back within the hour. I asked her why she had chosen to write the story.
“My editor assigned it to me,” she said. “It was an assignment from my editor.”
“Have you written a lot of stories that support gun control?” I asked.
Goldsberry said the Brady story was one of about a dozen anti-gun stories she has written recently.
“Does your paper now support gun control?” I asked.
“I would direct you to Hugo Gordon, our Editor in Chief,” she said.
“Why did you write the story?” I asked once again.
“It was an assignment from my editor, Adisa Hargett-Robinson,” she said. “She’s been here since July.”
I emailed Gordon, the paper’s top editor, along with managing editor Chris Irvine. I told them I had questions about Goldsberry’s story, which “appears to be a cut-and-paste from the anti-gun Brady group.”
To date, I have received no response from either editor.
I reviewed their ethics policies and found this: “Our constant aim is to inform readers about what is actually happening, and we do not allow any agenda to distort or deflect us from that mission. We also strive at all times for full disclosure of relationships that, if hidden, could suggest a conflict of interest.”
Then, I took a look at the person who had assigned Goldsberry the Brady press-release story, trending news editor Adisa Hargett-Robinson.
TV producer
According to her LinkedIn page, Hargett-Robinson has only worked at the newspaper for four months. Before that, she spent almost five years at ABC News in Washington, D.C.
After working as a desk assistant for nearly two years, she transferred to the network’s Race and Culture Unit.
“Worked collaboratively with cross-functional teams across ABC News to ensure diverse perspectives were represented in coverage, fostering a more inclusive dialogue on key issues affecting communities of color,” she wrote.
After three years, Hargett-Robinson became an Associate Booking Producer.
“Successfully book high-profile interviews, including notable figures such as David Hogg, Martin Luther King III, Chelsea Clinton and Red Cross leadership during hurricane season, ensuring relevant, impactful content,” she wrote of her time as a producer.
Seven months ago, Hargett-Robinson posted this:
“Hello! Last week as many of you probably saw ABC News had major layoffs laying off several staffers. I unfortunately was one of those staffers. During my almost five years at ABC, I was proud to cover a variety of issues from politics to entertainment and race and culture. I was honored to book and help produce several amazing segments some of them even exclusives for GMA3 and ABC News Live. I leave behind several fond memories and friends and look forward to seeing what is next for me. If anyone has any suggestions or leads or wants to talk feel free to reach out, I would love to connect!”
Hargett-Robinson did not reply to an email seeking her comments for this story.
Takeaways
It is not difficult to understand how one or two anti-gun news stories could appear in a conservative newspaper. After all, everyone is so busy, but a dozen? That is unbelievable.
I certainly hope the paper’s top editors will take a look at all of Ms. Hargett-Robinson’s activities, especially the stories she has assigned to her staff.
The Washington Examiner is truly a great news source. Its editorials are among the best. It certainly needs saving.
The post How a conservative media website published Brady’s anti-gun propaganda appeared first on Second Amendment Foundation.
