// editorial independence

Source: On Data and Democracy

The Bulwark's decision to spike an investigation into deceptive political fundraising practices after its publisher sided with the implicated consultants shows how financial incentives and personal relationships can override editorial independence, even at explicitly mission-driven outlets. The vulnerability runs deeper than partisan bias: publishers, consultants, and campaigns form overlapping networks that make accountability reporting difficult. The killing of this specific piece demonstrates that no publication is immune to the pressures of the ecosystem it covers.