

Ask Piranhamous Anything


1. So what’s really going on inside Do you think it’s as tumultuous as BuzzFeed suggests or more?

I know some people who’ve written for them and I’m not surprised to hear it’s a mess. Any organization has these sorts of office politics, but when the leader and only person with a complete vision dies, a mess is to be expected. There was a lot of sour grapes in the piece by BuzzFeed. McKay Coppins is obviously not a fan, but it didn’t read like he has “sources” deep within the organization. Read like they were posers, unpaid, angry hacks who are upset that their stuff doesn’t make the cut anymore. That said, who really cares? You don’t care how sausage is made, you only care how it tastes, and if their traffic is any indication, people think it tastes pretty good.

2. What’s your take on having sex with a newsroom coworker? Good idea or bad idea?

With a newsroom co-worker, go for it. In the newsroom with a co-worker, might want to rethink that. As long as you aren’t the person’s boss, and he or she isn’t yours, who gives a damn? Though I would like to see journalists interact with more real human beings. They’ve sort of been screwing the public through their cheerleading and bias for a long time, some of them should try doing it literally. Might open their eyes some.

Piranhamous addresses anonymous sourcing…

3. Where are you on anonymous sources? In Washington you get a lot of sources like “senior administration official.” Do you trust them when used in stories?

I trust them more when they’re conveying something that is secret, something they are really risking their job or freedom over that is important. I understand why they need to remain anonymous, then. But when it’s petty, backstabbing crap and rumor, like with campaigns, that’s bullshit.

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