Bloomberg News Faces Fallout Over Premature Report on Prisoner Exchange

Bloomberg News has dismissed senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs for violating a media embargo related to the release of American prisoners from Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The decision came after an initial report was published prematurely, prompting Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait to announce disciplinary actions against involved staff. The embargo was intended to ensure the safe release of the prisoners before any news was made public. The prisoner swap, which took place last Thursday, marked the largest exchange between the U.S. and Russia since the Cold War, involving Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan. Jacobs was one of the two reporters who authored the embargo-breaking article, which was published at 7:41 a.m. ET, before the prisoners were confirmed to be safely out of Russian custody. Following the premature report, Bloomberg updated the story to clarify that the Americans had not yet been released. Micklethwait acknowledged the potential risks posed by the early publication, stating it could have jeopardized the negotiated swap. He expressed regret over the incident and emphasized the importance of adhering to editorial standards that maintain the newsroom's credibility. In response to the breach, Bloomberg has committed to reviewing its processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The incident has drawn criticism from other news organizations, including the Wall Street Journal, which had coordinated to hold off on reporting until the prisoners were confirmed free. Micklethwait has since apologized to the released Americans and the Journal's editor-in-chief for the disruption caused by the premature report.