Published SourceSource / Evidence Document

Alan White Suggests Tanya Chen Byline For “Additional Reporting” On CEN Article

This 24 April 2015 email shows Alan White responding to Robert Colvile on what appears to be near-final CEN copy and suggesting: “Additional reporting Tanya Chen. She looked into knickers story for us.” The document is significant because it records BuzzFeed considering a public credit for Tanya Chen shortly before publication, even though other evidence in the BuzzFeed/CEN chain raises serious questions about the substance and limits of the Chinese-language verification work attributed to her. It should be read alongside the Craig Silverman/Tanya Chen language-checking documents and later deposition material concerning her ability to read or write Chinese, because this email helps document the gap between the appearance of additional reporting support and the evidence trail showing limited, indirect or inadequate language/source verification. The item is also relevant to the final attribution history of the article, because it shows BuzzFeed discussing whether Chen’s involvement should be visible to readers as “additional reporting” at a point when the article’s credibility depended heavily on claims that Chinese-source material had been properly checked.

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 LeidigAlan WhiteRobert ColvileTanya ChenCraig SilvermanBuzzFeed UKBuzzFeed Canadaadditional reportingbyline issueChinese storiesknickers storyChinese translationlanguage gapsource verificationproof gapfinal copyattribution issuefake news narrativeinvestigation methodologylibel case evidence

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