Lewis used hacked and paid sources for information
Washington Post CEO Will Lewis under investigation for unethical information gathering practices in the early 2000s
In recent developments, The Washington Post's CEO Will Lewis is under investigation for using unethical methods to obtain information while working at the London-based Sunday Times in the early 2000s. According to reports from The New York Times and other sources, Lewis used hacked and paid sources for information. This revelation comes after a former co-worker of Lewis's, a private investigator, and newspaper archives exposed these fraudulent practices.
The allegations against Lewis have caused widespread concern within the journalism community. Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University's School of Journalism, stated that Lewis's position is
John Ford was arrested for trying to steal a soon-to-be-released copy of Tony Blair’s memoir.
Ford contacted Robert Winnett for help.
Winnett facilitated Ford’s communication with a lawyer and discussed obtaining an untraceable phone.
Winnett reassured Ford that British journalistic omerta would protect his clandestine efforts.
Accuracy
Robert Winnett facilitated Ford’s communication with a lawyer and discussed obtaining an untraceable phone.
William Lewis offered an NPR reporter an interview in exchange for quashing a forthcoming article about the scandal.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states 'Winnett moved quickly to connect Ford with a lawyer, discussed obtaining an untraceable phone for future communications and reassured Ford that the ‘remarkable omerta’ of British journalism would ensure his clandestine efforts would never come to light.' This statement implies that the 'remarkable omerta' of British journalism is a valid reason for Ford's actions, but it is not explicitly stated or proven in the article that this is a widely accepted or true statement within British journalism. Additionally, there are dichotomous depictions in the article when it describes Ford as a 'once-aspiring actor who has since admitted to an extensive career using deception and illegal means to obtain confidential information' and later states 'Ford, who previously declined to be interviewed, did not respond to questions about the draft book chapters.' This creates a false dichotomy between Ford being either completely guilty or completely innocent.
Winnett moved quickly to connect Ford with a lawyer, discussed obtaining an untraceable phone for future communications and reassured Ford that the ‘remarkable omerta’ of British journalism would ensure his clandestine efforts would never come to light.
The Washington Post’s CEO Will Lewis is under investigation for using fraudulent and unethical methods to obtain information while working at the London-based Sunday Times in the early 2000s.
New York Times reported that Lewis used hacked and paid sources for information.
Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University’s School of Journalism, stated that Lewis’ position is ‘increasingly untenable’.
Lewis offered an NPR reporter an interview in exchange for quashing a forthcoming article about the scandal.
Morale at the Washington Post is plummeting and staffers describe an unprecedented stormy atmosphere hanging over the outlet.
Accuracy
Will Lewis is under investigation for using hacked and paid sources for information.
William Lewis personally assigned a reporter to write an article using stolen phone records in 2004.
Former Sunday Times journalist Peter Koenig claimed that Will Lewis assigned him a story in 2004 based on hacked phone records.
Deception
(35%)
The article does not explicitly state that Washington Post CEO Will Lewis engaged in fraudulent and unethical methods to obtain information for articles. It only reports allegations made by the New York Times. Additionally, the article quotes a source disclosing that Lewis declined to comment on the allegations. This makes it difficult to determine if he used such methods, which would be a direct lie by omission.
The article does not explicitly state that Washington Post CEO Will Lewis engaged in fraudulent and unethical methods to obtain information for articles.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Margaret Sullivan's opinion that Lewis' position is 'increasingly untenable'. This lowers the score to 85.
Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University’s School of Journalism, told CNN on Sunday that Lewis’ position is ‘increasingly untenable.’
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses her opinion that Lewis' position is 'increasingly untenable' and quotes Margaret Sullivan stating the same. This demonstrates a bias towards the idea that Lewis should step down from his position.
'These latest allegations of questionable journalistic ethics could also leave an enduring impression on a newsroom already reeling from the blindsiding ouster of its executive editor, Sally Buzbee.', 'Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University’s School of Journalism, told CNN on Sunday that Lewis’ position is ‘increasingly untenable.’'
Will Lewis and Robert Winnett used stolen phone and company records for articles they wrote in London two decades ago.
A British businessman publicly stated that his records were stolen after an article was published based on the stolen records.
Accuracy
Will Lewis personally assigned a reporter to write an article using stolen phone records in 2004 while working for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states 'a former colleague, a published account of a private investigator and an analysis of newspaper archives' as evidence against Will Lewis. This is not a valid form of reasoning as these sources are not experts in the matter and their credibility has not been established.
]A former colleague, a published account of a private investigator and an analysis of newspaper archives[
described Mr. Lewis as one of the best he had worked with
Bias
(75%)
The authors use language that depicts the subjects of the article as having engaged in unethical behavior without providing any evidence that they personally participated in the hacking or deception. They also quote a former colleague who claims that articles were written using stolen records, but do not provide any context about this colleague's motivations or credibility.
Mr. Lewis has maintained that his only involvement in the controversy was helping to root out problematic behavior after the fact
The publisher and the incoming editor of The Washington Post, when they worked as journalists in London two decades ago, used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles
New York Times revealed details about Washington Post CEO Will Lewis's entanglement in Fleet Street hacking tactics and his payment of large sums of money to sources.
Sally Quinn, a veteran Washington Post columnist who has generally been supportive of Lewis’s proposed changes to the newsroom, called for total transparency and gave him a chance to speak for himself.
One top WaPo star texted that every scoop is worse than the last and it’s beginning to feel like an existential crisis.
Accuracy
William Lewis, CEO and Publisher of The Washington Post, appointed Robert Winnett to the top editorial position in the newsroom.
Will Lewis personally assigned a reporter to write an article using stolen phone records in 2004 while working for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article does not contain any formal fallacies but does contain some informal fallacies and inflammatory rhetoric. The author references a collective 'holy shit' reaction from WaPo reporters and uses phrases like 'drip-drip of unsavory revelations' and 'slathered it with kerosene'. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of the situation at WaPo, presenting it as either chaotic or under control depending on the decisions made by Will Lewis.
. . . what one current WaPo reporter called “a collective ‘holy shit,’”
Will Lewis, CEO of The Washington Post, is under investigation for using stolen phone records to assign stories while working at The Sunday Times in London.
A U.K. businessman reported that his records were stolen and used in an article written by Robert Winnett.
Former Sunday Times reporter Peter Koenig claimed that Will Lewis assigned him a story in 2004 based on hacked phone records.
Accuracy
A U.K. businessman also reported that his records were stolen and used in an article written by Robert Winnett.
William Lewis, CEO and Publisher of The Washington Post, appointed Winnett to the top editorial position in the newsroom.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses an emotional appeal by stating that the Washington Post's CEO is accused of using stolen phone records, which is meant to evoke negative emotions towards him. Additionally, it employs a personal attack on Lewis by quoting a former colleague's negative opinion of him. Lastly, there is an instance of exaggeration in the phrase 'another scandal', implying that this is a recurring issue for the CEO.
. . . being accused of using stolen phone records to assign stories while business editor at The Sunday Times in London.
The Washington Post’s new CEO Will Lewis has another scandal on his hands,
A private investigator who worked at the Sunday Times publicly acknowledged using “deception to land the materials.”
Bias
(90%)
The author, JD Knapp, uses language that depicts the actions of Will Lewis as extreme or unreasonable by describing him as having 'another scandal on his hands' and 'accused of using stolen phone records to assign stories'. The article also mentions that a private investigator used 'deception to land the materials', implying wrongdoing. These statements suggest a bias against Will Lewis.
A private investigator who worked at the Sunday Times publicly acknowledged using ‘deception to land the materials.’
The Washington Post’s new CEO Will Lewis has another scandal on his hands, this time being accused of using stolen phone records to assign stories while business editor at The Sunday Times in London.
