Picture Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Day by day Beast
A new examine from the Southern Poverty Regulation Middle reveals simply how a lot Newsweek has fallen additional and additional down the fringe-right rabbit gap, thanks largely to the journal turning over its opinion part to a stridently conservative activist.
Hatewatch, which screens the American radical proper for the SPLC, printed an intensive evaluation on Friday spotlighting Josh Hammer’s position in “buoying extremists and selling authoritarian leaders” on Newsweek’s pages for the reason that outlet—which was as soon as The Day by day Beast’s sister publication—introduced him on as opinion editor in late 2020.
Earlier this 12 months, The Day by day Beast’s media e-newsletter Confider reported that concern had grown over Newsweek’s opinion web page having “seemingly gone off the deep finish,” noting that Hammer had printed op-eds from infamous Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec and MAGA diehard Charlie Kirk, amongst others. Moreover, Confider famous, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has maintained a “cozy relationship” with the journal.
In line with the examine’s creator, Michael Edison Hayden, “Newsweek has additionally did not disclose potential conflicts of curiosity rising within the content material printed by means of Hammer’s opinion part and his Newsweek-branded podcast.” As an illustration, not solely has Hammer donated to the marketing campaign of MAGA-worshiping GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters however he’s additionally printed at the very least 4 columns written by a outstanding Masters fundraiser.
Additionally, on his podcast, Hammer has additionally urged his listeners to take a look at latest information and political occasions by means of the prism of civil battle, telling his viewers that “we” should defeat “our” enemies.
“The onus for our aspect is… to name out the nonsense… to soberly acknowledge the place we're in what seems to be a falling, decadent, late-stage republic and to behave accordingly,” he mentioned in an August broadcast that includes Posobiec. “To know what time it's… and to command our aspect’s battle stations accordingly… to go to battle on this roiling, chilly civil battle in opposition to our home foes.”
As Hammer has promulgated overheated “wartime” rhetoric and frequently superior bigoted commentary on the journal’s opinion pages, a lot of Newsweek’s workers has accused administration of coddling Hammer and his editorial push in direction of the onerous proper.
“Hatewatch interviewed over two dozen present and former Newsweek staff, most of whom intersected with Hammer, and the suggestions they gave about him and his worldview was universally detrimental,” Hayden wrote. “Workers, the vast majority of whom declined to be named, citing situations of Newsweek’s contract, described the corporate’s managerial workers as giving Hammer preferential remedy and a type of movie star standing, which they didn't imagine his resume or contribution warranted.”
Whereas one former worker famous that he was fired by Newsweek for “violating a coverage of advocating political help for left-leaning causes” on social media, a public relations company talking on behalf of Newsweek famous those self same guidelines don’t apply to Hammer.
“Newsweek has a agency coverage of newsroom editors and [reporters] not donating to political campaigns. This doesn't apply to these within the opinions part,” LBG PR advised Hatewatch.
And in a basic response to Hatewatch’s examine, LBG PR wrote: “Newsweek’s opinions part options voices throughout the political and cultural spectrum. Whereas he provides up his personal opinions on the Newsweek platform, as Opinions Editor, Josh Hammer has embraced the mission of ‘The Debate’ and delivered an expansive discussion board for various views and dialogue.”
Learn the total Hatewatch examine right here.
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