CNN anchors Brian Stelter and S.E. Cupp discussed the New York Times‘ litany of recent “mistakes” and how the flubs “damage” the reputation of the media.
“To put it kindly, The New York Times is having a rough year,” Cupp began, before recounting the list of “controversial, regrettable” flubs on her show Saturday night, but added, “None of these things represent the Times entirely,” but “they’re also not helping.”
The Times has faced backlash in recent months for publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, Brett Stephens’ overreaction to being called a “bedbug” on social media, the paper changing a headline involving Trump, and their botched story about Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh last week.
“You always need strong editors who are able to see when something’s going to embarrass you and your news organization. It seems like… that’s what’s being missed,” Stelter said.
“When there are mistakes made, those mistakes are amplified and do damage more broadly than just The New York Times,” he continued. “Then politicians like President Trump can use it as ammunition against the media as a whole. So what I hope is happening at the Times, and what I think is happening, is that kind of conversation about where are the checks and balances, the multiple layers of editing that everybody needs. Everybody needs a good editor.”
