Don Lemon Named ‘Worst Journalist of 2014’

CNN’s Don Lemon was named as “Worst Journalist of 2014” on the Columbia Journalism Review, Darts & Laurel blog. Per the blog, Lemon was the only named journalist, although publications were also mentioned.

There were a series of, well, misspoken words which were not chosen wisely.

During a Ferguson, Missouri protest, Lemon gave insight on what the protesters were “obviously” doing.

Obviously, there’s a smell of marijuana in the air.

On March 20, the CNN host asked guests if the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was swallowed by a black hole.

I know it’s preposterous, but is it preposterous?

David Uberti, the CJR fellow expounded on why Lemon was given the honor.

As one of the most recognizable anchors on CNN, Don Lemon has helped lead the cable network’s coverage of the biggest stories of the year. Live television is exceedingly difficult to produce, of course, but Lemon’s gaffes this year offer a case study in how to choose words wisely — or not.

Don Lemon’s memorable words are detailed under a section of the blog entry, “When Life Gives You Lemon.”

But perhaps the biggest misstep Lemon made this year was when he counseled Joan Tarshis, a reported Bill Cosby rape victim, on how to resist sexual assault.

You know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn’t want to do it. Meaning the use of teeth, right?

Lemon prefaced his question with a statement that he didn’t want to be crude. Tarshis responded she was “stoned at the time” [of the alleged assault], didn’t think of it and later added, “Ouch!” in response to Lemon’s suggestion. It can only be assumed she was as stunned by the statement and follow-up question even more than the viewing audience.

But the CJR was on a roll, and Lemon was not the only target. Rolling Stone was called out for the “media-fail sweepstakes.”

University of Virginia student ‘Jackie’s’ gang rape tale was heralded as the type of story only Rolling Stone was capable of telling, one that could change the national conversation around contemporary sexual culture. But within two weeks, it began to fall apart.

Uberti stated that writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely didn’t contact the alleged rapists or three of the accuser’s friends who were not sympathetic to the story. The Washington Post then reported that Jackie’s account and her friends’ differed significantly. Uberti said Rolling Stone deserved a “dart” for blaming its failure on others.

Don Lemon received a call out by name, it can be assumed, because of the number of mistakes made in 2014.

[Image: Geeks and Cleats]