Ex-Sputnik Reporter Speaks Out on Working for a ‘State-Controlled’ Russian Outlet

By Josh FeldmanJun 4th, 2017, 1:05 pm
 

Andrew Feinberg recently tweeted that he was no longer working as a White House correspondent for Sputnik, and since then he’s been pretty vocal in calling out the state-owned Russian outlet:

Feinberg talked to CNN’s Brian Stelter on Reliable Sources this morning and spoke out about the kind of pressure he got from his superiors:

“After the gas attack in Syria––that horrible sarin gas attack––I was asked to put questions to the White House that framed the issue in such a way that made it seem like the attack didn’t happen, that it was staged, things like that… They frame it like a reasonable question but it’s really pushing a narrative that doesn’t comport with reality.”

“In another environment it would be a suggestion,” he added. “At Sputnik it was an order.”

Stelter asked him why he would join an outlet like Sputnik in the first place. Feinberg says there is a “legitimate purpose for state-sponsored news agencies,” but there is a big difference between that and “state-controlled” ones.

A few days ago Sputnik responded in a statementr to the things he’s been saying. Per The Washington Post:

Сollaboration with Mr.Feinberg has been terminated as of 05/26. We would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Feinberg for passion he demonstrated at the beginning of his career at Sputnik. Unfortunately, as high as it was this passion did not convert into the same level of professional journalism and the amount of exclusive stories that our clients and readers are looking for. He started on a merry note, and ended on a sad one. Thus, we are doubly saddened by false accusations spread by Mr. Feinberg and hope that the fruits of his rich imagination would not create more conspiracy theories around Sputnik.

Feinberg found that choice of words to be particularly interesting, considering how Sputnik has kept the Seth Rich murder conspiracy going.

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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Josh Feldman is a Senior Editor at Mediaite. Email him here: josh@mediaite.com Follow him on Twitter: @feldmaniac