I don’t see any reporting on the dangers of talking to reporters. Where is the NYT piece on what happens to people after they have been linked to something in the news?
I think that given Scott Alexander’s experience, ‘don’t talk to reporters, ever’, is as sound advice as ‘don’t talk to the police without an attorney’.
There are plenty of resources on how to handle talking with a reporter.
One thing I would suggest learning the difference between going on- and off-the-record and speaking on background.
> Where is the NYT piece on what happens to people after they have been linked to something in the news?
Here's a free one: Harvey Weinstein's victims. Despite them coming out about his abusive behaviors, his attorneys and henchman are going after them.
The Weinstein case seems to tell us nothing about the general risk of talking to reporters even though it is a data point.
It sounds like you are in full agreement with me otherwise though.
“Talking to reporters is very dangerous. Never do so without extensive study of the available resources.”