A top propaganda firm working for the Pentagon targeted USA Today journalists in a smear campaign intended to discredit the journalists. USA Today most likely became a target after investigating Pentagon propaganda contractors. Multiple social media accounts and websites using the journalists names popped up as well as fake Wikipedia pages.  The propaganda firm eventually confessed to the smear campaign. Read the original reports below:

Misinformation campaign targets USA TODAY reporter, editor – USATODAY.com

Propaganda Contractor Admits to Running Smear Campaign Against USA Today Reporters (UPDATE)