The Washington Post will be removing bylines and datelines from stories in an effort to provide safety to its journalists after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation targeting “fake” news.
Reporters based in Moscow will have their bylines and datelines removed from “certain stories” as the Washington Post seeks clarification as to whether Putin’s crackdown will apply to international news organizations, the news outlet said in a statement.
“For now, to help protect our Moscow-based journalists, we will exercise caution by removing bylines and datelines from certain stories,” the Washington Post said in the statement. “We want to be sure that our Moscow-based correspondents are not held responsible for material that is produced from beyond Russia.”
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Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi shared the move from the news organization in a Twitter post, confirming that “in response to Putin’s threats against reporters in Russia,” the outlet would remove “bylines and datelines.”
“Been around a while. Never seen anything like this,” he added.
Some internal news: In response to Putin’s threats against reporters in Russia, the @washingtonpost will remove bylines and datelines from stories produced by our journalists in Russia. Goal is to ensure staff’s safety.
Been around a while. Never seen anything like this.
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) March 5, 2022
Other outlets have made similar moves, with BBC Director-General Tim Davie releasing a statement saying his outlet would be “temporarily” suspending “the work of all BBC News journalists and their support staff within the Russian Federation.”
“Our BBC News service in Russian will continue to operate from outside Russia,” Davie said in his statement. “The safety of our staff is paramount, and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs.”
BBC statement on reporting from within Russia.
Reacting to new legislation passed by the Russian authorities, BBC Director-General Tim Davie says: pic.twitter.com/uhowHW3jkr— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) March 4, 2022
Davie noted “journalists in Ukraine and around the world” will continue to report on the invasion.
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After approval in both chambers of Russia’s parliament, Putin signed legislation into effect on Friday that would hit journalists in Russia with prison time if they publish stories with information that seemingly contradicts Russian officials’ account of the war in Ukraine, including labeling the war in Ukraine as an “invasion,” according to Fox News. Journalists who are found guilty of publishing fake news could face a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Washington Post for a statement but did not receive a response.
