thisisinsider

So I'm assuming this is tongue-in-cheek but I'll answer it honestly!

Throughout the article Dom's real name, Dominykas Zeglaitis, is used. "Zeglaitis" appears in the article 78 times and "Dobrik" appears 58 times, even though his name is in the headline, photo captions, etc.

The reason we refer to Dom as a member of David Dobrik's Vlog Squad is because most people don't know who Dom is. He's only relevant because of his role on David's channel. So it's the most helpful to readers to identify him as what he's famous for, not as his legal name, which 99.9 percent of readers don't know. -KT

So, in terms of how some content creators disparage journalists — saying we only want clout, that we build our careers off them — they're viewing journalists like they view other influencers. To creators, "clout" is the building block of success, it's attention that can be monetized.

Journalists need "clout" in some ways, depending on what our jobs are looking for. I have goals in terms of how many paying subscribers I attract with my reporting. It's not the kind of "clout" the content creators disparaging me think it is. And if my beat IS influencers, then yes, I'm building my career off of them, which is how any type of beat reporting works.

In terms of journalists transitioning to content creation, I think modern journalism often IS content creation. Writing is content, blogs are content, videos & social media posts are content. So some of the tools are the same. I do think the creator/journalist crossover is growing and will continue to shape in different directions. -KT

It's hard not to imagine the feeling of a bonesaw, as Mr. Khashoggi reportedly may have experienced. So I suppose I am never going to travel to Saudi Arabia, just in case.

Yes and no. Before every big exposé, there's usually some kind of threat of legal action from the subject's lawyers. The first time, that was scary. Now I'm a little more seasoned at the legal editing process and I'm not scared of lawyers. I also know my rights and how to perform my due diligence so that I'm not liable for defamation or slander.

In terms of harm, no, I've never truly feared any of the people I cover. I think I could meet most all of them face-to-face and walk away unscathed. I DO get scared of OTHER people online, like stans who fake DM screenshots with me. That's what scares me the most, the idea of disinformation about me being believed. -KT

So, I already know you're coming from a position of not liking me or my work. But I'll give it my best shot.

The vast majority of the article is focused on Dom. There's literally a couple paragraphs devoted to other Vlog Squad members. David is mentioned throughout the piece because he's the reason the night happened, the person who filmed and edited it, and the person who uploaded it to his YouTube channel, where it got millions of views.

Regardless of where you think blame lies in the situation, David is instrumental to the context of the story. It's his show; Dom was a participant. David is the boss, he's the face, he's the name, he's the foundation of everything. He said that himself, too.

The conversation around indirect participants, namely Jeff, happened because Jeff didn't read the story. He thought the piece implicated him when it was just a handful of sentences unrelated to the primary narrative. Jeff inserted himself into the conversation and later profited greatly from his role in the drama. I handled it as best I could. -KT