[alexander_busek]

It’s easy to dunk on journalists when [...]

...and:

Anyone who dunks on that needs a hug and a nap.

I find their diction peculiar.

I am familiar with the transitive verb "to dunk" meaning "to immerse something or someone," as in "He dunked his doughnut into the coffee," or "He dunked the basketball through the hoop" - but to "dunk on someone or something?!"

Well, I guess that they are modern journalists, so we have to cut them some slack.

Regards,

[pepsi_junkie]

but to "dunk on someone or something?!"

It's slang for a player in a game of basketball who showboats by not just beating his defender but dunking the ball instead of settling for a layup. The implication is that he is intentionally disrespecting his opponent.

[Lee'sGhost]

Of course, he means “dump on” but did not want to use a phrase with bathroom connotations, so he changed it to “dunk on” rather than write something different and accurate.

Yes, a modern “journalist.”