Gleeson's hit piece reeks of deceptive vigilantism, not journalism. After noting that Murray had a "Saturday to remember," Gleeson wrote "the Oklahoma quarterback's memorable night also helped resurface social media's memory of several homophobic tweets more than 6 years old."
Who "resurfaced social media's memory?" Why, it was Gleeson himself! By creating an illusion that Murray's schoolboy tweets were the subject of any scrutiny and outrage other than Gleeson's own, USA Today gave us a shining example of the manufacturing of fake news.
Indeed, Gleeson's own biography is one of a social justice advocate dedicated to identity politics propaganda. "My enterprise and human interest work on the LGBT movement in sports made me an APSE award finalist in 2016 and a USBWA award winner in 2017," Gleeson boasts.
Was he aiming for another award with his ambush of Murray? Gleeson certainly got his new scalp and paraded it prominently, with aiding and abetting by USA Today's silent, AWOL editors. Within hours of publication, Murray had apologized.
How does lying in wait (when Gleeson could have "resurfaced" old tweets at any time), and publishing a smear in the middle of the night before giving Murray a chance to respond, comport with the newspaper's promises that:
"We will be honest in the way we gather, report and present news -- with relevancy, persistence, context, thoroughness, balance, and fairness in mind.
We will seek to gain understanding of communities, individuals and issues we cover to provide an informed account of activities”
We will seek to gain understanding of communities, individuals and issues we cover to provide an informed account of activities”
"We will uphold First Amendment principles to serve the democratic process.”
"We will reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments of our community.”
"We will provide editorial and community leadership.”
"We will treat people with respect and compassion.”
"We will reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments of our community.”
"We will provide editorial and community leadership.”
"We will treat people with respect and compassion.”
"We will strive to include all sides relevant to a story.”
"We will give particular attention to fairness in relations with people unaccustomed to dealing with the news media.”
"We will act honorably and ethically in dealing with news sources, the public and our colleagues.”
"We will give particular attention to fairness in relations with people unaccustomed to dealing with the news media.”
"We will act honorably and ethically in dealing with news sources, the public and our colleagues.”
"We will observe standards of decency."
Will the editors respond publicly to criticism and address readers and employees so that their actions match these words?
Will the editors respond publicly to criticism and address readers and employees so that their actions match these words?
