The NYT Makes Matters Worse as It Spins Response to 'Caliphate' Scandal

The management at The New York Times must be grateful for the cover afforded by Christmas and the New Year. As the paper of record is grappling with a massive journalistic scandal the holidays can serve as a significant distraction while they weather this storm. Altering their practices and working to avoid this kind of public humiliation is not high on the priorities list, it appears, as more information is coming out to show that spin, rather than repair, seems to be the method of approach to this scandal. If unfamiliar, the problems surround a highly regarded podcast series the Times produced in 2018, entitled “Caliphate.” It covered a Canadian national named Shehroze Chaudhry who became radicalized in ISIS and traveled to Syria to become an executioner in the terrorist organization. Upon his escape and subsequent return to Canada he was approached by the Times and his story was made into both news items and then ultimately developed into the podcast series. (I detailed much of the scandal last week.)-- More...