Bloomberg News has terminated senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs after she reported a prisoner exchange with Russia before its conclusion, violating a news embargo.
This breach drew criticism, as it potentially endangered the exchange’s outcome.
Bloomberg’s Editor-in-Chief, John Micklethwait, stated that it violated the medium’s editorial standards and promised a review of procedures.
“Even if our story mercifully ended up making no difference, it was a clear violation of the editorial standards which have made this newsroom so trusted around the world.
“Following a full investigation over the past few days by our Standards editor, we have today taken disciplinary action against a number of those involved, and we will be reviewing our processes to ensure that failures like this don’t happen again,” Micklethwait said.
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Jacobs defended her actions, asserting she followed the embargo and highlighting that reporters don’t control publication timing.
“As a journalist, the idea that I would jeopardise the safety of a fellow reporter is deeply upsetting on a level that’s difficult to describe,” Jacobs said. “I am so happy Evan Gershkovich and the others are home.”
Jacobs added: “Reporters don’t have the final say over when a story is published or with what headline. The chain of events here could happen to any reporter tasked with reporting the news. This is why checks and balances exist within the editorial processes.”
The exchange freed 16 individuals, including 3 American citizens, 1 American green-card holder, 5 Germans and 7 Russian political prisoners, prior to White House briefings under embargo.
