It may seem like it was a lifetime ago, given the amount of news, both media and other, that has happened since, but has been just days since we learned about Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Junior’s… interactions. Quick recap, the affair between the one-time presidential candidate and New York Magazine star reporter was consensual and, per Oliver Darcy’s Status exclusive, not physical. As Nuzzi put it:
Earlier this year, the nature of some communication… turned personal.
Nuzzi had written a widely read RFK Jr. profile before this dynamic shift and is on leave as a result of it becoming public. It’s all rather messy, but you can catch up on that stuff elsewhere. (More from Darcy here and The New York Times here, for starters.)
The main thing I want to tackle is the very different reactions to the revelations on the different sides of the Atlantic. Let’s reiterate – the relationship was not physical. We seem to be talking sexting/nudes, per The Daily Beast and others. This clearly crosses a line and is completely inappropriate. But the prudish reaction from across the pond is something to behold.
Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr. Reactions
While many British hacks were having a giggle and going, “Wait, they didn’t even sleep together?” American journos I’ve seen give their opinion or spoken to seem genuinely shocked, almost offended that one of theirs would do such a thing. It is a great indication of how our journalism cultures differ. We in the UK have always been a bit… scruffier… taken ourselves less seriously. That doesn’t mean we don’t take the work seriously, but British journos tend to be a bit better at laughing at ourselves.
Things are shifting a bit across the UK media. Just ask Jermaine Jenas. But on many beats, journalists and sources get very close. This is particularly true in politics – I could reveal all sorts of dalliances between journalists, staffers and politicians in Westminster. It is inevitable when working in closed shops that require long hours and intense, frequent interactions.
Another thing to note. Most of the criticism I’ve seen seems to be aimed at Nuzzi. There seems to be very little aimed at the 70-year-old (married) man who involved himself with a 31-year-old (engaged) woman.
All-in-all, the hand-wringing is very revealing.
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