NYT Writer Spills Tea on Bret Stephens For ‘Narcing on Colleagues’ Social Media Critiques: ‘People Fear for Their Jobs’
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New York Times opinion contributor Wajahat Ali spilled tea on conservative columnist Bret Stephens constantly tattling on his colleagues because Stephens was upset that they were critical of “one of his many terrible takes,” Ali wrote in a Twitter thread Friday afternoon.
Ali called it the “Bret Stephens Policy,” where Times staffers “walk on eggshells when it comes to him.”
“There’s a simmering resentment and feelings of a very real double standard,” Ali wrote. “People fear for their jobs so remain quiet.”
I appreciate the NYT listening to its employees, especially people of color, & suggesting the work culture will change. In that spirit, let me tell how many live in fear of the “Bret Stephens Policy.” So many have been contacted by editors because Brett has whined or complained.
— Wajahat “Social Distance Yourself” Ali (@WajahatAli) June 5, 2020
He has even emailed the masthead complaining about fellow editors or writers. As a result many walk on eggshells when it comes to him. There’s a simmering resentment and feelings of a very real double standard. People fear for their jobs so remain quiet. This is not just a few 3/
— Wajahat “Social Distance Yourself” Ali (@WajahatAli) June 5, 2020
Ali’s comments come two days after dozens of Times employees spoke out against the opinion section’s decision to publish an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) entitled, “Send in the Troops.” Staffers tweeted, “Running this puts Black @NYTimes staff in danger,” among other comments.
On Thursday, opinion writer Bari Weiss shared her take on the newsroom’s dynamic turning into a “civil war.” In response, she was mocked and called out by her colleagues. Stephens got dragged into the conversation publicly via a tweet from former Times climate reporter Kendra Pierre-Louis Thursday, who hinted at the so-called “Bret Stephens Policy”
ALSO! While I am spilling tea (because fuck it!)
If you are an NYTimes employee and tweet something Bret Stephens doesn’t like he will take the tweet and complain about it to your manager.
— Kendra “Gloom is My Beat” Pierre-Louis (@KendraWrites) June 4, 2020
Ali said he’s never met Stephens and said “so many have wanted to speak out on the record but are afraid for their jobs.”
But if we are serious about changing the work culture then this has to be addressed. So many have wanted to speak out on the record but are afraid for their jobs. That tells you everything you need to know. I respect my editors and writers and love writing pieces for the NYT. 5/
— Wajahat “Social Distance Yourself” Ali (@WajahatAli) June 5, 2020
Writers and journalists have now messaged me saying this thread was “brave.” No, I should have spoken out earlier. I am not salaried like others. If I lose opportunities, so be it. Still, I hope it leads to change ACROSS the media landscape. People are tired.
— Wajahat “Social Distance Yourself” Ali (@WajahatAli) June 5, 2020
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