OLD Media Moves

Bloomberg EIC Winkler clamps down on Twitter posts

May 19, 2010

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

Bloomberg News editor in chief Matt Winkler is not happy with how some of the organization’s journalists are phrasing their breaking news posts on Twitter.

In his weekly notes to the staff, Winkler recently slammed some specific Twitter posts. Here are some examples of the posts and Winkler’s comments.

Winkler writes, “At Bloomberg News, the three most important words are accuracy, accuracy and accuracy. The following tweets on Bloomberg.com during congressional testimony compromised our integrity.”

Twitter post by Bloomberg reporter: “Blanfkein working hard not to start the head-bobbing thing. He was so upset/vehement at the FCIC hearing he kept bobbing his head.”

Winkler comment: ((xxx working hard xxx is an assertion/opinion and therefore inaccurate as we can’t know what Blankfein is thinking. xxx upset/vehement is an assertion/opinion and xxx bobbing xxx is an opinion masquerading as observation and therefore inaccurate))

Twitter post by Bloomberg reporter: “Is Levin too cranky by half? Wonder if he’s making GS boys sympathetic characters.”

Winkler comment: ((xxx cranky by half xxx is an assertion/opinion and therefore inaccurate. xxx wonder xxx invites judgment which can’t be verified and is therefore inaccurate))

Twitter post by Bloomberg reporter: “McCain thumping on the ‘’you big bankers make too much money.’ Blankfein looks really uncomfortable.”

Winkler comment: ((xxx thumping xxx is an assertion that can’t be reported. Authenticity of quotation is questionable followed by assertion/opinion as there is nothing substantiating subjective xxx uncomfortable xxxx and therefore inaccurate))

Twitter post by Bloomberg reporter: “Fabulous Fab completely incomprehensible on how these transactions work. Need we say more.”

Winkler comment: ((xxx completely incomprehensible xxx is an assertion/opinion and therefore inaccurate. xxx need we say mo xxx is an assertion/opinion and therefore inaccurate))

Subscribe to TBN

Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly.

Subscribe to TBN

Receive updates about new stories in the industry.