Hard News

by Seth Mnookin

“I didn’t know what to do” Abramson to author.

  “Far from being a shadow” Tyler. “Re: New York Times Book Project.”

  Abramson, on the other hand Abramson to author.

  “A lot of people did” Siegal to author.

  soon after her lunch Abramson to author.

  “I’m hearing Abe’s back!” Auletta, “The Howell Doctrine.”

  an “unsophisticated” analysis The Charlie Rose Show. Interview with Howell Raines. PBS. Air date, July 11, 2003.

  a 2003 national reporting Pulitzer Available at www.pulitzer.org/year/2003/national-reporting.

  “Howell won’t mind” Author interviews.

  The author’s bio in Raines’s 1977 novel Howell Raines. Whiskey Man. New York: Viking, 1977. Back flap copy.

  “boss from hell” Stephen Engelberg. “Book Review Lies and the Sly Liar Who Tries to Justify Them.” The Oregonian. March 21, 2004. p. D6.

  On November 1, 2001, after polishing off William J. Broad, Stephen Engelberg, Judith Miller, and Sheryl Gay Stolberg. “Excruciating Lessons in the Ways of a Disease.” The New York Times. October 31, 2001. p. A1. Also William J. Broad, Stephen Engelberg, and James Glanz. “Assessing Risks, Chemical, Biological, Even Nuclear.” The New York Times. November 1, 2001. p. A1.

  “This can’t work” Engelberg to author.

  “It was a potentially great job” Frantz to author.

  a story about the space-shuttle disaster Matthew Rose and Laurie P. Cohen. “Men in the News: Amid Turmoil, Top Editors Resign at New York Times—for Raines, Reporters’ Lapses Helped Stoke Friction over Management Style—’An Endemic Cultural Issue.’ ” The Wall Street Journal. June 6, 2003. p. A1.

  “Everybody started to get calls” Landman to author.

  The Daily Report

  “One person quits” Raines, “My Times.”

  “These [all-known thoughts] were” Behr to author.

  “If the drought drags on” Andrew C. Revkin. “Extended Drought Strains Resources Along East Coast.” The New York Times. April 21, 2002. p. A1.

  “He decided we were undercovering” Landman to author.

  “Every editor and reporter” Robert J. Samuelson. “A Liberal Bias?” The Washington Post. August 29, 2001. p. A21.

  “Leading Republicans from Congress” Todd S. Purdum and Patrick E. Tyler. “Top Republicans Break with Bush on Iraq Strategy.” The New York Times. August 16, 2002. p. A1.

  “listening carefully to” Elisabeth Bumiller. “President Notes Dissent on Iraq, Vowing to Listen.” The New York Times. August 1, 2002. p. A1.

  “The imminence of proliferation” Henry A. Kissinger. “Our Intervention in Iraq.” The Washington Post. August 12, 2002. p. A15.

  “Not since William” Charles Krauthammer. “Kidnapped by the Times.” The Washington Post. August 18, 2002. p. B7.

  “I had to tell them” Carr to author.

  “This is certainly a shift” Seth Mnookin. “The Changing ‘Times.’ ” Newsweek. December 9, 2002.

  “By this time” Abramson to author.

  “Ms. Spears” Laura M. Holson and Alex Kuczynski. “Schoolyard Superstar Aims for a Second Act, as an Adult.” The New York Times. October 6, 2002. p. A1.

  “There’s nothing wrong” Landman to author.

  Augusta

  “CBS Staying Silent” Alessandra Stanley and Bill Carter. “CBS Staying Silent in Debate on Women Joining Augusta.” The New York Times. November 25, 2002. p. A1.

  “[The Augusta coverage] was just shocking” Mnookin, “The Changing ‘Times.’ ”

  “Raines is on the verge” Mickey Kaus. “Kerry Mystery Contest; Plus: Raines Remains Silent, Day 6!” Online Posting. Kausfiles. www.slate.com. November 26, 2002.

  “At some point” Jack Shafer. “The New York Times’ Augusta Blog: Stop Me If You’ve Read This Story Before.” Available at www.slate.com/id/2074599. November 25, 2002.

  “We’re The New York Times” Sulzberger to author.

  “I remember being surprised” Okrent to author.

  “The Masters story” Kramon to author.

  Paul Colford, reported Paul D. Colford. “Times Editors Kill 2 Columns in Augusta Rift.” New York Daily News. December 4, 2002. p. 50.

  “Howell and I believe” Gerald Boyd. “NYT M.E. Gerald Boyd’s memo re Augusta.” Online Posting. Poynter Online—Forums, “Memos Sent to Romenesko.” December 4, 2002. 4:45:56 p.m. Available at www.poynteronline.org/forum/default.asp?id=32127.

  “If Boyd’s memo” Mickey Kaus. “The NYT Buckles.” Online Posting. Kausfiles. www.slate.com. December 5, 2002.

  “Gerald’s memo was totally” Haberman to author.

  “I guess it was because” Alan Shipnuck. The Battle for Augusta National: Hootie, Martha, and the Masters of the Universe. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. p. 141.

  “There was a very strong” Ibid., p. 143.

  “I think Gerald” Ibid., p. 145.

  “prompted critical commentary” Felicity Barringer. “2 Rejected Sports Columns to Be Printed by The Times.” The New York Times. December 7, 2002. p. A17.

  “I was appalled” Author interview.

  “If there’s ever a revolt” Ibid.

  Raines wed his longtime girlfriend Sridhar Pappu and Anna Jane Grossman. “My Big Fat Times Wedding.” The New York Observer. March 17, 2003. p. 1.

  Part Two

  SPRING 2003

  The First Signs of Scandal

  On Saturday, April 26 Rivard to author.

  The headline read Jayson Blair. “Family Waits, Now Alone, for a Missing Soldier.” The New York Times. April 26, 2003. p. A1.

  stories about a suspect John MacCormack. “Missing & Presumed Dead.” San Antonio Express-News. December 28, 1999. p. A1.

  The Express-News story Macarena Hernandez. “Valley Mom Awaits News of MIA Son.” San Antonio Express-News. April 18, 2003. p. A1.

  “Jayson was always” Hernandez to author.

  “Instead of going to the Times” Macarena Hernandez. “What Jayson Blair Stole from Me, and Why I Couldn’t Ignore It.” The Washington Post. June 1, 2003. p. B5.

  “Juanita Anguiano points” Blair, “Family Waits, Now Alone, for a Missing Soldier.”

  the Anguianos’ Martha Stewart Macarena Hernandez. “National Betrayal.” San Antonio Express-News. June 1, 2003. p. H1.

  “Since someone at the Times” Rivard to author.

  “By the time I got there” Roberts to author.

  “At that time, he hadn’t decided” Kurtz to author.

  Jayson Blair

  “just another black man” Jayson Blair. Burning Down My Masters’ House. Beverly Hills, Calif.: New Millennium, 2004. p. 95.

  “They are the finest people” Latt to Holly Bailey for Newsweek. Seth Mnookin et al. “Times Bomb.” Newsweek. May 26, 2003.

  “He just bounced in one day” Cahill to Patrice Wingert for Newsweek. Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  The yearbook index lists Centreville High School yearbook.

  Blair seems to have faked Chris Mergerson. “God Attracts 62 Students and 4 Teachers.” Centreville Sentinel. September 22, 1993. p. 2.

  “Jayson attached [my name]” Mergerson to author.

  Blair enrolled at Liberty University David Folkenflik. “The Making of Jayson Blair.” Baltimore Sun. February 29, 2004. p. F10.

  “He was easy to pick out” Callahan to Martha Brant for Newsweek. Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  “When Jayson was initially hired” Newman to Rebecca Sinderbrand for Newsweek. Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  “All of us were ambitious” Author interview.

  “He tried to undermine our efforts” McMenamin to Brian Braiker for Newsweek. Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  Another intern says Blair frequently tried Author interview.

  “I’ve seen some who like to abuse” Dan Barry, David Barstow, Jonathan D. Glater, Adam Liptak, and Jacques Steinberg. “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.” The New Y
ork Times. May 11, 2003. p. A1.

  Joyce Purnick, then the metro editor Blair, Burning Down My Masters’ House, p. 106.

  According to Arthur Sulzberger Adrienne P. Samuels. “Black Journalists Discuss ‘Blair Affair.’ ” St. Petersburg Times. August 10, 2003.

  “I told him that he needed to find” Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  “He always struck me as” Author interview.

  Gerald Boyd headed the committee Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  “It was clear that Gerald” “The Siegal Committee Report; Report and Recommendations of the Working Group on Training and Performance Management; Recommendations and Thoughts of the Communications Subcommittee.” July 28, 2003. p. 39. Available at www.nytco.com/committeereport.pdf.

  “To say now that his promotion” Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  the Times ran the following correction Jayson Blair. “A Rousing Rock Show for a Wounded City.” The New York Times. October 21, 2001. p. B10. Correction appended October 23, 2001.

  negative review “Siegal Committee Report,” p. 38.

  “There’s big trouble” Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  “You have enormous promise and potential” Author interviews.

  not “inclusive” Auletta, “The Howell Doctrine.”

  Blair took two personal leaves Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  two of Blair’s supervisors “Siegal Committee Report,” p. 39.

  “In a weird way” Blair to author.

  “It was real filth” Landlord to Suzanne Smalley for Newsweek. Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  “He was just spinning out” Author interview.

  Sniper Time

  “This guy’s hungry” Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  Jayson Blair broke out of the pack Jayson Blair. “Retracing a Trail: The Investigation; U.S. Sniper Case Seen as a Barrier to a Confession.” The New York Times. October 30, 2002. p. A1.

  “We had sources waving us away” Abramson to author.

  “When I read that first story” Barstow to author.

  Within days, The Washington Post See, for example, Susan Schmidt and Katherine Shaver. “Muhammad Interrogation in Dispute; U.S. Attorneys Cut Off Talks, Local Prosecutor Alleges.” The Washington Post. October 31, 2002. p. A1.

  “The Post got beat” Erik Wemple. “Sniping Coverage.” Washington City Paper. November 8, 2002.

  “Jayson,” Raines wrote Linda Conte for Howell Raines. “From Howell re: Wednesday’s great scoop.” E-mail message. November 1, 2002. 11:05:52 a.m.

  “I interpreted it as, ‘Fuck you,’ “ Abramson to author.

  “I can’t imagine accepting” Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  Boyd walked by the Times’s metro desk Author interviews.

  In a December 22 front-page story Jayson Blair. “Teenager’s Role Tangles Case Against Older Sniper Suspect.” The New York Times. December 22, 2002. p. A1.

  business reporter Gretchen Morgenson Laurie P. Cohen and Matthew Rose. “Amid Turmoil, Top Editors Resign at New York Times.” The Wall Street Journal. June 6, 2003. p. A1.

  “I couldn’t throw it away” Kramon to author.

  “Zuza [Glowacka] encouraged me” Blair, Burning Down My Masters’ House, p. 273.

  In college, while writing Jayson Blair. “Media Right to Expose Wrong.” The Diamondback. May 7, 1999.

  “fully psychotic” Blair, Burning Down My Masters’ House, p. 287.

  he was writing from inside Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  “He did not seem to have” Roberts to author.

  Blair’s April 26, 2003, front-page story Blair, “Family Waits, Now Alone, for a Missing Soldier.”

  Resignation

  “I was still wondering” Roberts to author.

  “Many people in my newsroom” Rivard to author.

  “We believe your Houston reporter” Robert Rivard. Letter to Bill Keller. March 30, 1999.

  “Having reported for a couple” Bill Keller. Letter to Robert Rivard. April 7, 1999.

  “It’s not quite plagiarism” Howard Kurtz. “New York Times Story Gives Texas Paper Sense of Déjà Vu; San Antonio Editor Cites ‘Damning’ Similarity.” The Washington Post. April 30, 2003. p. C1.

  Wemple, who had written Wemple, “Sniping Coverage.”

  “The first words out of his mouth” Kurtz to author.

  Wemple’s story indicated Erik Wemple. “Repeat Performance.” Washington City Paper. May 2, 2003.

  “Dear Bob” Author interview.

  “He just seemed nervous” Williams to author.

  “I said I was an expert” Haberman to author.

  Haberman, who had been banned Elizabeth Kolbert. “Tumult in the Newsroom.” The New Yorker. June 30, 2003. See also Talese, The Kingdom and the Power, pp. 377–81.

  Gerald Boyd got hold of Roberts to author.

  Blair sent a letter Sridhar Pappu. “Off the Record.” The New York Observer. May 12, 2003.

  The New York Times ran its first Jacques Steinberg. “Times Reporter Resigns After Questions on Article.” The New York Times. May 2, 2003. p. A30.

  “I have been struggling” Tara Burghart. “Former New York Times Reporter Apologizes.” Associated Press. May 2, 2003.

  “trouble with basics” Paul D. Colford. “Times to Probe Reporter’s Stories.” New York Daily News. March 3, 2003. p. 17.

  “this was a promising” Reliable Sources. Hosted by Howard Kurtz. CNN. Air date May 4, 2003. Transcript available at www.cnn.com/transcripts/0305/04/rs.00.htm.

  who himself had been snookered Jack Shafer. “The Jayson Blair Project: How Did He Bamboozle the New York Times?” Available at www.slate.com/id/2082741. May 8, 2003.

  Jacques Steinberg had arrived Steinberg to author.

  Reston’s career at the Times James Reston. Deadline. New York: Random House, 1991.

  Lorne Manly, the Times’s Manly to author.

  “It was suggested to me” Steinberg to author.

  Blair, she said, was covering Williams to author.

  “I keep trying” Manly to author.

  “No, no, no, he didn’t come” Steinberg, “Times Reporter Resigns After Questions on Article.”

  “David Shaw treatment” David Shaw. “A Business Deal Done—a Controversy Born.” Los Angeles Times. December 20, 1999. p. V1.

  “I was thinking about Reston” Steinberg to author.

  “We both knew there was more” Manly to author.

  A Team Assembled

  “I had no idea” Liptak to author.

  The whole time he was practicing Glater to author.

  one of his more amusing Jonathan Glater. “Adultery May Be a Sin, but It’s a Crime No More.” The New York Times. April 17, 2003. p. A16.

  “Well, at least you went” Glater and Liptak to author.

  a follow-up to a three-part David Barstow and Lowell Berman. “At a Texas Foundry, an Indifference to Life.” The New York Times. January 8, 2003. p. A1.

  “On his best day” Barstow to author.

  “You’re suddenly looking” Steinberg to author.

  “It was similar to a litigation” Liptak to author.

  “He couldn’t believe” Steinberg to author.

  “Fairly early on” Liptak to author.

  “He had a kind of mental rigor” Siegal to author.

  “I had never worked with Jayson” Kramon to author.

  “It became clear that we could not” Steinberg to author.

  The closest parallel to the team’s endgame A. H. Raskin. “The Strike: A Step-by-Step Account.” The New York Times. April 1, 1964. p. A1.

  Blood Brothers, a black youth gang Jun
ius Griffin. “Anti-White Harlem Gang Reported to Number 400.” The New York Times. May 6, 1964. p. A1. Also, Junius Griffin, “N.A.A.C.P. Assails Reports of Gang.” The New York Times. May 11, 1964. p. A27.

  published a profile Fox Butterfield and Mary B. W. Tabor. “Woman in Florida Rape Inquiry Fought Adversity and Sought Acceptance.” The New York Times. April 17, 1991. p. A17.

  calling the Bowman piece a “mistake” Anna Quindlen. “A Mistake.” The New York Times. April 21, 1991. Section 4, p. 17.

  a defensive editors’ note Editors’ Note. The New York Times. April 26, 1991. p. A3.

  an unbylined story “On Names in Rape Cases.” The New York Times. April 17, 1991. p. A17.

  asked Marty Baron Marty Baron. “Re: Lewinsky story sourcing.” Memo to Joe Lelyveld and Bill Keller. February 15, 1998.

  “Joe wanted me to just examine” Jones to author.

  They commissioned an editors’ note “The Times and Wen Ho Lee.” Editors’ Note. The New York Times. September 26, 2000. p. A2.

  Jones was no longer under contract Jones to author.

  a dispatch from Hunt Valley, Maryland Jayson Blair. “Watching, and Praying, as a Son’s Fate Unfolds.” The New York Times. March 24, 2003. p. B1.

  one from April 7 in Cleveland Jayson Blair. “For One Pastor, the War Hits Home.” The New York Times. April 7, 2003. p. B1.

  In the middle of the meeting Steinberg to author.

  From Portland, Barstow asked Barstow to author.

  By Friday evening, the paper’s top Kramon to author.

  “It was a good story” Barry to author.

  “Anytime you’re doing a project” Landman to author.

  One Week in May

  “We had no idea how deep” Barstow to author.

  “It was starting to sink in” Liptak to author.

  “That day, I remember my shoulders” Glater to author.

  “We just bawled like babies” Jayson Blair and Douglas Jehl. “Rescue in Iraq and a ‘Big Stir’ in West Virginia.” The New York Times. April 3, 2003. p. A1. Also, “Family of Rescued Soldier Rejoices.” Associated Press. April 2, 2003.

  Haraz Ghanbari was a freelance photographer Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  Late on Sunday, May 4 Barstow, Manly, Siegal, Barstow, Barry, Steinberg, and Glater to author.

  April 2002 e-mail from Jon Landman Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”