Conservatives criticize NYU’s hiring of controversial former fact-checker as teacher

New York University has hired Talia Lavin to teach an undergraduate course on “Reporting on the Far Right” at its journalism school in the fall, in a move that drew blowback from some conservatives on social media. 

 

The hiring of Lavin, first reported by The Wrap, comes about nine months after the former fact-checker for the New Yorker mistakenly accused an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent of having a Nazi iron cross tattoo.

 

Lavin apologized for the mistake and resigned from her position at the New Yorker.

{mosads}The university characterizes Lavin as an expert in “far-right extremism and social justice” in its faculty bio. She will serve as an adjunct professor.

 

Lavin and NYU did not immediately reply to requests for comment from The Hill. 

 

The decision by the 188-year-old university was slammed by right-leaning media members on social media. 

 

What exactly is going on at NYU? pic.twitter.com/Tx358G0Ewv

— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) March 20, 2019

Unbelievable https://t.co/PsQbuF5sZ0

— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) March 20, 2019

Quite believable

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 20, 2019

Talia Lavin and Lauren Duca teaching at NYU J school is the best argument yet that J Schools should be neutron bombed and their buildings given to Rick Singer for no show side door people.

— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) March 20, 2019 

Those who can’t….teach at NYU https://t.co/TlMF4nYmn3

— Michael Goodwin (@mgoodwin_nypost) March 20, 2019

Basically NYU is hiring all of the worst journalists in the media to teach others about journalism. https://t.co/9jhxBQFxbQ

— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) March 20, 2019 

NYU is a disgrace. But you knew that already. https://t.co/FE9egpQ8mX

— David Reaboi (@davereaboi) March 20, 2019