BBC’s disinformation correspondent and chief fact-checker Marianna Spring is accused of lying on her resume by falsely claiming to have worked with a Beeb journalist when applying for a job in Moscow
- BBC disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring allegedly lied about her resume
- She reportedly claimed to have worked with the BBC’s Sarah Rainsford
The BBC’s disinformation correspondent is facing claims that she lied on her CV about her experiences.
Marianna Spring, who has gained notoriety for her coverage of how social media has been used to spread false information, is facing the embarrassing accusation that she provided misleading information in an attempt to secure employment.
According to a report, Ms. Spring was trying to get work as a freelancer in Moscow for US news site Coda Story about five years ago when the misleading claim was made.
An article in The New European states that when she applied to the website’s editor-in-chief, Natalia Antelava, in 2018, Ms Spring claimed she had worked with BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford on coverage of the ‘perception of Russia’ during the World Cup football of 2018.
Her resume reportedly featured the following braggart: “June 2018: Reported on international news during the World Cup, particularly the perception of Russia, with BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford.”
Questions: BBC News correspondent for disinformation Marianna Spring
Marianna Spring, who has gained notoriety for her coverage of how social media has been used to spread false information, is facing the embarrassing accusation that she provided misleading information in an attempt to secure employment.
According to The New European, Ms Antelava, herself a former BBC journalist, allegedly reprimanded Ms Spring, who is now 27, after checking the allegation.
Ms Spring is said to have sent an email apologizing for her “terrible misjudgment”.
She is said to have written, “I only ran into Sarah while she was at work and talked to her on several occasions, but that’s all. Everything else on my CV is absolutely true.’
The young journalist added that she was a “brilliant reporter” and also admitted in their emails that there was “no excuse.”
She said her only explanation was her “desperation to report in Moscow” and that she thought it “wouldn’t be a problem,” which she said was “naive and stupid.”
In the email exchange published by The New European, Ms. Antelava told her, “It was a terrible idea to tell me that you are a brilliant reporter who practices integrity and honesty when you have literally proven otherwise.”
The Coda Story boss, who is believed not to have gone ahead with the application, is said to have added, “I’m sure if you use this as a lesson, you’ll be fine.”
Ms Spring, who was promoted to the title of Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent in August last year, has worked for Panorama and has her own BBC podcast called Marianna In Conspiracyland.
She is part of the BBC Verify team tasked with fact-checking, countering disinformation and ‘explaining complex stories in the pursuit of truth’.
The BBC declined to comment tonight.
An article in The New European states that when she applied to the website’s editor-in-chief, Natalia Antelava, in 2018, Ms Spring claimed she had worked with BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford (pictured) to cover the ‘perception of Russia during the 2018 football matches. World Cup