Eric Trump tried to take down an award-winning Washington Post journalist – it backfired badly

Eric Trump’s attempt to expose a Washington Post journalist did not go well.

The executive VP of the Trump Organisation and a strong contender for “dumbest Trump offspring” was angered by an email sent to one of his employees by journalist David Fahrenthold.

In the email, Fahrenthold messaged the employee to let them know how to contact him and anonymously share any information about the Trump Organisation.

To Eric, this was a shocking act of journalistic misconduct.

The problem is there’s nothing remotely suspicious about the email – unless you assume that politely asking for information is wrong…

Fahrenthold, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, was clear and honest about his intentions, and went out of his way to make sure the employee understood what he was asking for.

It’s a near-perfect example of how investigative journalists should operate, as many reporters pointed out on social media.

Later in the day, Fahrenthold recorded a short video to explain why he sent the email and, in short, explain how journalism works…

He said:

This is a kind of email I send all the time - to Trump Organisation employees, to people who are investors in Trump properties, to people who might know something about some story I’m trying to cover.

A lot of journalism is finding people who know something you want to know, but you don’t know them and they don’t know you.

It’s reaching out and making connections with people who might be able to help you.

Judging by Eric Trump’s anger at the email, it looks like no-one has ever explained to him what journalists do.

HT Alternet

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