BuzzFeed’s limited edition “Failing Pile of Garbage” merchandise has sold out, as well as raising US$25,000 (AUD $34,000) for nonprofit organisation dedicated to protecting journalism and the freedom of the press.
Yesterday BuzzFeed was called out by President-Elect Trump at his first press conference for publishing a 35-page unverified report which claimed (among other things) that Trump has deep ties with Russia.
The report had been circulating within media organisations for months, but went unreported because it was unverified. BuzzFeed decided to published the report after a CNN article claimed Trump and President Obama had been briefed on the documents.
In response to Trump calling the publication a “failing pile of garbage”, BuzzFeed released a bunch of limited-edition merchandise including t-shirts, stickers and an actual garbage-can with the quote.
As the site promised, proceeds of the “garbage” sales will be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonprofit organisation made up of about 40 experts around the world, with headquarters in New York City. When press freedom violations occur, CPJ mobilizes a network of correspondents who report and take action on behalf of those targeted.
A BuzzFeed spokesperson confirmed that the company raised US$25,000 for the CPJ.
“We appreciate BuzzFeed’s continued generosity and support in our mission, which is to promote press freedom worldwide by defending the rights of all journalists to work without fear of reprisal,” said the CPJ.
