Published SourceSource / Evidence Document

Richard James Out-Of-Office Shows CEN Picture Alert Reaching BuzzFeed UK News Editor

This 21 March 2015 out-of-office reply records BuzzFeed UK news editor Richard James receiving a CEN picture-story email headed “Saudi Man Kept Housemaid As A Slave For 13 Years”, while stating that he was away until 6 April and giving senior BuzzFeed UK contacts for urgent enquiries. The document is significant because it confirms that CEN picture-story alerts were still reaching a senior BuzzFeed UK editorial figure shortly before BuzzFeed published its later allegations about CEN. In the wider evidence chain, it should be read alongside the March 2014 request to add James to CEN alerts and his February 2015 request to be removed from the mailing list, because together they show that CEN material was reaching BuzzFeed’s editorial operation over an extended period while the later investigation was developing. The item helps document the gap between BuzzFeed’s later posture of investigating CEN from outside and the internal reality that named BuzzFeed editorial staff had already had direct access to CEN’s regular story feed.

Source

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

europe Media newsX Community Interest Company Published 3 May 2026 at 13:43 Source: 16 July 2016

Tags

CENCentral European NewsBuzzFeedRichard JamesRobert ColvileLuke LewisCEN alertspicture storySaudi Arabiahousemaid storyUK news editoremail alertseditorial feededitorial supply chainBuzzFeed use of CENinternal knowledgesource accesspre-publication relationshipCEN case documentslibel case evidence

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Credit: newsX Community Interest Company

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