Radio Host Calls Out BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief on the Air Over 'Misleading' Headline on 'Myth' of the 'Dead Cops' Chant

Radio host Hugh Hewitt confronted BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith over a story that was posted on his website Wednesday that apparently asserted, “‘Dead Cops’ Chant a Myth.” The splash headline referred to a group of New York City protesters who were caught on video chanting for “dead cops” in the aftermath of several police-involved deaths.

Smith admitted he had yet to read the story when Hewitt took issue with the "misleading" phrasing.

"I'm ahead of the editor?" Hewitt asked jokingly. "That's OK."

Smith at first argued the story is “pretty straightforward,” but then ceded more ground when he was pressed on the issue.

“Look — ‘Dead Cops Chant a Myth,’ Ben. It’s not a myth. She confirms it in the first graph! It happened,” Hewitt said.

“Oh, I see. You are talking about the splash headline,” Smith responded.

“Yeah! What people click on!” Hewitt shot back.

Smith then agreed “myth” is a “little strong” for the story in question. But Hewitt continued to dig deeper, asking the editor-in-chief is he “regrets” the wording of the headline.

“Is that just fair game tabloid journalism come to the Internet? You’re just trying to get people to click on that to read it,” Hewitt said.

“I’m happy to take a look at this story that you’re reading aloud to me a this moment. I think, obviously reporting should be accurate, headlines should be accurate, so yes, that’s a fairly obvious point that we both agree on,” Smith replied.

The word "myth" was no longer connected to the story in any way as of Wednesday afternoon. However, the piece does still refer to the "dead cops" chant as "alleged," even though it was captured on video.

Buzzfeed.com

You can watch the original video of the disturbing "dead cops" chant below:

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