Bloomberg has responded with disciplinary measures against the journalists who prematurely disclosed a story regarding the significant prisoner swap that successfully returned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, labeling it a “clear breach” of editorial standards that could have endangered their safety.
Last week, Bloomberg outpaced the WSJ and other outlets with news of the upcoming prisoner swap, but subsequently revised its article to clarify that “an earlier version of this story was amended to indicate that the Americans have not yet been released.”
Following the safe return of the hostages, New York magazine reported that Bloomberg faced backlash from the White House and other news organizations for violating a news “embargo” and reporting on the release too soon. The report highlighted that “news organizations were instructed by the White House to withhold their stories until Gershkovich and others were confirmed to be in U.S. custody,” yet Bloomberg published its article before that confirmation.
The report also stated that media outlets were made aware of an impending swap but were advised to refrain from publication until the safety of the prisoners was fully assured. Such embargoes and agreements are common in the media industry, providing news organizations the opportunity to prepare their coverage more effectively.
WSJ REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH RELEASED BY RUSSIA IN PRISONER SWAP; PAUL WHELAN ALSO BEING FREED
For example, the president’s State of the Union address is frequently shared with media outlets in advance but is typically under embargo until the speech commences. Violating a news embargo is considered a significant breach of media ethics.
Former prisoner held by Russia US journalist Evan Gershkovich waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)
“According to multiple sources at the Journal and other major outlets, the Bloomberg scoop left journalists and government officials infuriated. With a prisoner swap, you don’t know if it’s going to happen until it occurs,” reported Charlotte Klein of New York magazine.
Klein noted that Bloomberg’s senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs, one of the authors of the initial article, was dismissed as part of the disciplinary actions. Bloomberg has not commented on Jacobs’ employment status, and she did not respond to a request for comment; an email sent to her Bloomberg account bounced back.
Bloomberg’s editor in chief, John Micklethwait, addressed the matter on Monday in a memo to staff that was obtained by Fox News Digital.
“Last Thursday, we published a story prematurely regarding the release of Evan Gershkovich and the other prisoners, which potentially jeopardized the negotiated swap that freed them. Even though our report ultimately did not seem to affect the outcome, it was a blatant breach of the editorial standards that have earned this newsroom its global reputation,” Micklethwait stated in the memo shared with the Times.
“After a thorough investigation conducted by our Standards editor over the past few days, we have enacted disciplinary measures against several individuals involved and will be reassessing our editorial process to ensure this kind of failure does not recur,” Micklethwait added. “I have also personally reached out to apologize to each of the freed prisoners.”
WSJ REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH ASKED FOR PUTIN INTERVIEW UPON RELEASE FROM RUSSIAN PRISON
This image released by the White House features Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right, and Paul Whelan, second from right, along with others aboard a plane on August 1, 2024, following their release from Russian captivity. (White House via AP)
Micklethwait noted that he also extended an apology to Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker, stating, “Given the Wall Street Journal’s relentless advocacy for their reporter, this was indisputably their story to cover.”
“We publish thousands of articles daily, many of which break news. We prioritize accuracy above all else. However, we also have an obligation to act ethically. In this instance, we did not do so,” he concluded.
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