Dear Buzzfeed News... | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Dear Buzzfeed News...

You've made me hate my career before it even started

10
Dear Buzzfeed News...
Cloudfront

Buzzfeed News! Hi!

My name is Mackenzie and you don't know me. Well, you might... but as a number, I'm sure. I used to be a pretty big advocate for your company. Unfortunately, as time went on and stories came out, I haven't been campaigning for you as much. With what happened last week, honestly, I want to drop you all together.

You see, I'm in college right now. I'll be graduating next May and I am studying communications/journalism. I've taken far too many classes to let myself switch that up now. However, the actions you have taken over the last few days have seriously impacted a big portion of people in this country and I'm not sure you know that... or care.

These memos against our President-elect, Donald Trump, that you decided the public needed to see, have been around for a few months. The memos themselves, to the people who were paying attention, weren't "news." Now, I'd like to state that I agree these allegations are disgustingly awful and terrible. Here's the key word in that previous statement. Allegations.

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am not Trump's biggest supporter. Nor am I his fan in any way, shape or form. However, you can not post allegations to a heavily trafficked sight claiming them as true. You can not do that.

The election of 2016 has already been a shit storm of terrible, this did not need to happen. Not only did you drag Trump through the mud, but you also disgraced the names of other people who had to prove their innocence. Trust me when I say, Trump can drag his own name through the mud. He does not need your help.

You were not the only news source that had these memos. Other news outlets all over the country had access and chose to not publish because there is no proof that these things have actually occurred. You said this about the person who sent the memos: “the document was prepared for political opponents of Trump by a person who is understood to be a former British intelligence agent." There is no name given, which is fine. In journalism there are many sources who choose to remain anonymous. However, you just admitted to the public by stating he/she prepared these for opponents of Trump which leads people to believe your source has a bias.

In an age where young journalists, such as myself, are trying to establish our credibility and fight against "Fake News," you've made our job so much harder. Your editor made a statement telling people that “there is serious reason to doubt the allegations.” You gave that warning. How are the everyday people who are reading this LARGE document you produced supposed to know the factual information in there?

They're not.

"There are seven skittles in this bag that are not poisonous." That's a statement. Are you going to eat the bag of skittles? No! Because there are bad skittles in there. I'm going to assume that the whole thing of skittles is bad until someone points out the seven good skittles!

Despite your best efforts to credit yourself as a legitimate news source, you've failed. You've just pushed forward the idea of "Fake News," and put a whole lot more pressure on legitimate journalists. I'm sorry, but it's true.

For the next four years, anything that is published and is anti-Trump in the slightest is going to be questioned. The media will be questioned on everything, even more so than they already are. Your editor also said that your company decided to publish this because he felt that this was showing the job of journalists in 2017.

What job is that? To find the information? To leave the days of fact-checking behind and throw the entire country into a frenzy because we didn't do our job properly?

If that's the job of reporters in 2017, count me out.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

191190
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15416
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

458248
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26822
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments