The reinstatement of journalists on Twitter appears to be conditional and incomplete
MashableDec 19, 2022
The Facts
Twitter owner Elon Musk has reinstated the accounts of several prominent journalists who recently had been covering the company and had their accounts suspended last Thursday, allegedly for breaking a rule against the publishing of personal information called "doxxing."
CNN’s Donie O'Sullivan, New York Times tech reporter Ryan Mac, the Washington Post’s Drew Harwell, former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, and former Vox writer Aaron Rupar were among those banned.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is still an attack on press freedom because the reinstated journalists were only conditionally allowed back on the platform. Musk continues to practice the philosophy of "free speech for me, but not for thee." His banning spree against journalists who cover him came after he released the “Twitter files” in an attempt to expose previous management’s censorship, but he’s doing the same thing.
Narrative B
These aren’t journalists Musk banned, they’re activists disguising themselves as members of the media, and their so-called reporting put Musk and his family at risk of physical attack. In the past, these same people called for banning the accounts of right-wing individuals for far less egregious actions, so they should be able to understand why Musk has taken this action and is putting conditions on their reinstatements.
