CNN Sets New Policies on Russia Stories After Embarrassing Retraction

CNN has introduced strict new rules regarding coverage of Russia-related stories over the weekend, following an embarrassing retraction after it published a fake news story in support of the Trump-Russian collusion narrative.

“No one should publish any content involving Russia without coming to me and Jason [Farkas],” wrote CNNMoney executive editor Rich Barbieri in an email sent Saturday and first obtained by BuzzFeed. “This applies to social, video, editorial, and MoneyStream. No exceptions,” the email added. “I will lay out a workflow Monday.”

The new policy was implemented one day following CNN’s retraction of a bogus story published on June 22 linking former Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci to the Kremlin via allegations that he was connected to the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The investment fund is managed by a Kremlin-controlled bank. The story included suggestions of secret meetings and financial misconduct.

[lz_ndn video=32552515]

“On June 22, 2017, CNN.com published a story connecting Anthony Scaramucci with investigations into the Russian Direct Investment Fund,” CNN said in an official statement. “That story did not meet CNN’s editorial standards and has been retracted. Links to the story have been disabled. CNN apologizes to Mr. Scaramucci.”

The Scaramucci story falsely claimed that the former member of Trump’s transition team had such strong links to the RDIF that the Senate was investigating the fund.

A source close to CNN told BuzzFeed the incident was a “massive, massive f**k up, and people will be disciplined.” CNN’s own Brian Stelter called it “an embarrassing moment for CNN” in his daily newsletter.

[lz_related_box id=”812453″]

Stelter also revealed that CNN isn’t even telling its own employees the full story on what went wrong.

“The truth is, there’s still a lot we don’t know,” Stelter wrote. “On Saturday and Sunday I asked CNN PR for details and comment. A network spokeswoman declined to comment as of Sunday evening.”

“I sometimes complain to my editors about the layers of editing and oversight that exist at CNN,” Stelter wrote. “But these processes exist for good reasons. Determining what went wrong this time will help prevent future damage to the news organization.”