Published SourceSource / Evidence Document

Robert Colvile Chases Redacted Source For CEN Screenshots As Story Nears “Sharp End”

This 31 March 2015 email chain shows Robert Colvile chasing a redacted contact for material on CEN, saying it would be “really helpful” because BuzzFeed was getting “towards the sharp end”, before forwarding the reply to Tom Phillips and asking him to respond quickly because he “just wanted her to screenshot and send literally everything she could”. The document is significant because it shows BuzzFeed still trying to gather screenshots and specific story material from an outside source late in the reporting process, rather than working from a completed evidence file. The redacted contact says she had spoken briefly with Tom Phillips and was waiting for him to identify “some specific stories” so she would know “which one to send over”, which suggests the evidence-gathering process was still being narrowed, requested and assembled around particular examples at this stage. It should be read alongside other late-March BuzzFeed/CEN draft, proof-gap and front-up documents, because it helps document the article moving towards publication while parts of the underlying source base were still being collected through external screenshot requests.

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 LeidigRobert ColvileTom Phillipsredacted sourcescreenshotssource materialevidence gatheringsharp endspecific storiesproof gapsource verificationdraft processonline debunkingfake news narrativeinvestigation methodologylibel case evidence

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