Ted Bridis, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Rob Hiaasen lecturer in Investigative Reporting, was cited in “Ronan Farrow Says He Also Faced ‘Blackmail Efforts from AMI’ for Reporting on the National Enquirer, Trump” published in The Washington Post on Feb. 7.

The article features journalist Ronan Farrow’s claim that he and “at least one other prominent journalist” received blackmail threats from National Enquirer owner American Media Inc. (AMI) to abandon their reporting on the National Enquirer and President Trump. Journalists and media outlets have now come forward with claims that they had also been threatened.

In response to Farrow, Bridis, former editor of  the Associated Press’ Washington investigations team, tweeted that AP was “warned explicitly by insiders that AMI had hired private investigators to dig into backgrounds of @AP journalists looking into the tabloid’s efforts on behalf of Trump,” adding, “Never saw evidence of this either way, and it didn’t stop our reporting.”

Bridis referenced Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’s Medium post in a separate tweet. He said that AMI, the National Enquirer and its lawyers “tried to shut down public interest reporting on tabloid’s work on behalf of Trump.”

Posted: February 8, 2019
Category: College News
Tagged as: Ted Bridis, The Washington Post