Richardson: “Uncomfortable” with spiking stories

Ben Richardson, the former editor at large at Bloomberg News who quit earlier this month due to concerns about the news organization’s decision to spike stories critical of businessmen tied to the Chinese government, spoke Tuesday about the move with David Folkenflik of “All Things Considered.”

In the segment, Richardson is quoted as saying, “It was a decision I felt very uncomfortable with.” Folkenflik also reported that Richardson plans to set up a not-for-profit website that will pursue such stories.

Folkenflik also reported that company founder Michael Bloomberg attended the news service’s daily editorial meeting on Monday and stated that all editorial decisions would be made by editors, not manages on the business side of the company.

Bloomberg’s comments run counter to those said last week by Bloomberg LP chairman Peter Grauer, who spoke in Hong Kong and said that the company needed to rethink its investigative journalism efforts. Bloomberg has seen sales of its terminals in China slow after it published articles connecting businesses to Chinese government leaders.

Said Richardson in the Folkenflik piece: “It’s a no-win situation.”

To listen to the segment, go here.