Published SourceSource / Evidence Document

Ben Smith Says “Awesome” After Press Gazette Spoiler And CEN Article Publication

This 24 April 2015 email chain shows BuzzFeed’s senior editorial, legal and production staff reacting as the Press Gazette spoiler story and BuzzFeed’s own CEN article went live. Robert Colvile first circulates the Press Gazette piece “for info”, after it had reported on CEN’s complaint that BuzzFeed’s investigation was harming a business competitor, and Ben Smith replies simply: “Awesome.” Later in the same chain, after the BuzzFeed article is published, Colvile sends the live BuzzFeed link and writes: “Thank you all for your patience. We’re tidying up at this end but it now live,” followed by congratulatory replies from Lisa Tozzi and Shani Hilton. The document is significant because it records BuzzFeed’s editor-in-chief reacting positively at the moment the external Press Gazette story and BuzzFeed’s own article entered the public domain, rather than expressing concern about the competitive-motive criticism or the unresolved issues raised by CEN. The recipient list is also useful because it shows the wide internal audience around the article, including Ben Smith, Shani Hilton, Lisa Tozzi, Robert Colvile, Nabiha Syed, Tom Namako, Luke Lewis, Heidi Blake, Craig Silverman, Alan White, Tom Phillips, Mark Stephens, Allison Lucas, Matthew Tucker and Rory Lewarne. Matthew Tucker’s inclusion should be read alongside earlier documents showing him receiving, forwarding and approving CEN material before the investigation, because it further links the publication moment to staff who had prior practical knowledge of CEN as a usable editorial source.

Source

Part of Central European News & Mike Leidig v BuzzFeed (US Second Circuit Libel Case) – BF Case Documents

Europe Media Published 1 May 2026 at 21:09 Source: 1 November 2016

Tags

BuzzFeedCENMike LeidigBen SmithRobert ColvileShani HiltonLisa TozziNabiha SyedTom NamakoLuke LewisHeidi BlakeCraig SilvermanAlan WhiteTom PhillipsMark StephensAllison LucasMatthew TuckerRory LewarnePress GazetteDominic Ponsfordpublication dayspoiler storycompetitor issuelegal reviewinternal reactionclient use contradictionpublic narrativefake news narrativelibel case evidence

Rights & Licensing

Reference / Evidence Only — not licensed for reuse

Credit: newsX

These documents are made available as source material connected to the Central European News and Mike Leidig v BuzzFeed libel proceedings and the related book. They are provided for reference, research, and evidential context only. No reuse licence is granted by the uploader, and any further use is the responsibility of the person using the material.

This is a source or evidence document. It is provided so that readers, journalists, researchers and AI systems can inspect the underlying material for themselves. It is reference material — not licensed editorial content for reuse.

File BuzzFeed_010419.PDF · 92.0 KB Download

This material was submitted by a member. Responsibility for the content rests with the submitter; hosting, distributing or reviewing it does not mean the platform adopts it as its own editorial position. Platform notice · File a complaint