Hard News

by Seth Mnookin

  such a large headline type Auletta, “The Howell Doctrine.”

  “They half begged and half demanded” Siegal to author.

  “[Later that week] I interviewed” Barstow to author.

  “None of the reporters took glee” Barry to author.

  “It was excruciating” Steinberg to author.

  “I’d walk around” Barry to author.

  “That night, I couldn’t sleep” Glater to author.

  “We were seeing indications” Steinberg to author.

  “It was an amazing story” Barstow to author.

  “the level of journalistic crime” Barry to author.

  Manly reported to Al Siegal Manly to author.

  “[Monday, May 5] was the one time” Kramon to author.

  Everyone froze Manly to author.

  “We knew they wanted us” Liptak to author.

  “I just went and said” Barry to author.

  “When we were talking” Glater to author.

  Had he been the one Liptak to author.

  “I was calling him” Steinberg to author.

  “I have a story” C. J. Chivers. “Re: far from home.” E-mail message. March 1, 2003. 12:51:06 a.m.

  “my shirt was getting rancid” Barstow to author.

  “I get to the front desk” Barry to author.

  The Westin had recently introduced Available at Westin Hotels & Resorts company website, www.starwood.com/westin/service/reservations_service.htm.

  the last time they would talk Barry and Barstow to author.

  “Clearly, if you’re putting a story” Siegal to author.

  Raines appeared on PBS’s NewsHour The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. “The Search for Truth.” Reported by Terence Smith. PBS. Air date, May 9, 2003. Transcript available at www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june03/blair_05-09.htm.

  “I said to the other guys” Steinberg to author.

  “It was pretty palpable” Barstow to author.

  “We weren’t looking” Barry to author.

  “We all in some way love” Barstow to author.

  The Times’s Report

  “drunk the Kool-Aid” Mathis to author.

  pieces of the Times report Barry et al., “Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception.”

  That Sunday, The Denver Post “Writer’s Work Published in the Denver Post.” The Denver Post. May 11, 2003. p. A10. Also, “The Chronicle Ran 3 of Blair’s Stories.” San Francisco Chronicle. May 11, 2003. p. A1. Also, “At Least One Story by Jayson Blair That Was Published in The Tennessean Contained Errors Corrected Yesterday by The New York Times.” The Tennessean. May 11, 2003. p. 16A.

  The Orlando Sentinel ran Manning Pynn. “Squander Credibility and All Is Lost.” Orlando Sentinel. May 11, 2003. p. G3. Also, “Most of Reporter’s Articles Had Problems, New York Times Says.” Orlando Sentinel. May 11, 2003. p. A22.

  Reaction in the newsroom was mixed Author interviews.

  “We were very proud of the piece” Liptak to author.

  “We were all half waiting” Barstow to author.

  “We were sort of wondering” Liptak to author.

  Norris walked around the newsroom Norris to author.

  Raines sent out an e-mail Howell Raines. “A Message to the Staff by Howell Raines.” E-mail message. May 12, 2003. 5:40:08 p.m.

  “We hit [Raines] pretty squarely” Haberman to author.

  “There was a sense” Barstow to author. Also, Jacques Steinberg. “Editor of Times Tells Staff He Accepts Blame for Fraud.” The New York Times. May 15, 2003. p. A31. Also, Howard Kurtz. “To the Editors: How Could This Happen?; N.Y. Times Staff, Execs in ‘Painful and Honest’ Meeting over Plagiarism Fiasco.” The Washington Post. May 15, 2003. p. C1.

  Writing about this period Raines, “My Times.”

  A Fateful Gathering

  Sheila Sharkey, a tourist Paul D. Colford et al. “Times Chief Says He’s Not Quitting.” New York Daily News. May 15, 2003. Also, Josh Getlin. “As N.Y. Times Struggles with Scandal, Editor Insists He’ll Stay.” Los Angeles Times. May 15, 2003.

  the Times had confirmed “New York Times: Ex-Reporter Faces Fraud Inquiry.” Available at www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/05/13/ny.times.investigation. May 13, 2003.

  “I wanted to show solidarity” Siegal to author.

  “You’re too young” Tifft and Jones, The Trust, p. 655.

  “I’ve received a lot of advice” “Dark Days for the Gray Lady.” Associated Press. May 15, 2003.

  “Does that mean I personally” “Profile of Howell Raines.” Associated Press. June 5, 2003.

  “Whatever slack I was cutting” Raines, “My Times.”

  “Did I pat him on the back?” Kurtz, “To the Editors.”

  Shaila Dewan Author interview.

  Jack Rosenthal, Raines’s predecessor Rosenthal to author.

  “It only became scary to me” Siegal to author.

  “Closing The Times’s” Francis W. Rodgers. “Jayson Blair: Fallout Goes On.” Letter to the Editor. The New York Times. May 16, 2003. p. A26.

  he sent out an e-mail Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  The Fallout

  The Blair-authored profile Blair. “Gerald.”

  Howell Raines’s bio Maureen Dowd. “Howell.” In Times Talk. Internal Newsletter. September 2001.

  I filed a piece detailing Seth Mnookin. “A Week to Remember in Memphis.” Newsweek.com Web Exclusive. May 6, 2003.

  My “nut graf” Mnookin et al., “Times Bomb.”

  Blair agreed to speak Sridhar Pappu. “ ‘So Jayson Blair Could Live, The Journalist Had to Die.’ ” The New York Observer. May 26, 2003. p. 1.

  Howell Raines sent out a memo Howell Raines and Gerald Boyd. “A note from Howell and Gerald.” E-mail message. May 20, 2003. 5:30:24 p.m.

  “silo management” Raines, “My Times.”

  And he had told Ken Auletta Auletta, “The Howell Doctrine.”

  The story, published on the front Rick Bragg. “An Oyster and a Way of Life, Both at Risk.” The New York Times. June 15, 2002. p. A1.

  One infamous story Rick Bragg. “Small Alabama Newspaper Prevails in Crusade to Expose Corrupt Sheriff.” The New York Times. June 1, 1998. p. A10.

  the fact that only two Rick Bragg. “The Era of Showgirls Is Leaving Las Vegas.” The New York Times. March 22, 2001. p. A1.

  On Monday, he gave an interview Howard Kurtz. “Suspended N.Y. Times Reporter Says He’ll Quit; Rick Bragg Decries ‘Poisonous Atmosphere.’ ” The Washington Post. May 27, 2003. p. C1.

  Kurtz had been at Kurtz to author.

  Peter Kilborn Seth Mnookin. “Firestorm in the Newsroom: The Times’s National Staff Defends Their Reporting Methods.” Newsweek.com Web Exclusive. May 28, 2003.

  “I was really offended” Kilborn to author.

  David Firestone, who had been David Firestone. “NYT National Desk Isn’t Built on Stringers.” Online Posting. Poynter Online—Forums. “Letters Sent to Romenesko.” May 28, 2003. 1:59:33 p.m. Available at www.poynter.org/forum/default.asp?id=letters.

  Jennifer Steinhauer, wrote Jennifer Steinhauer. “This NYT-er Won’t Let Bragg’s Claims Go Unchecked.” Online Posting. Poynter Online—Forums. “Letters Sent to Romenesko.” May 28, 2003. 4:54:18 p.m. Available at www.poynter.org/forum/default.asp?id=letters.

  Alex Berenson, the reporter Alex Berenson. “Not Everyone Does It ‘the Bragg Way.’ ” Online Posting. Poynter Online—Forums. “Letters Sent to Romenesko.” May 28, 2003. 5:17:37 p.m. Available at www.poynter.org/forum/default.asp?id=letters.

  sent out a three-sentence message Howell Raines. “A Message to the Staff.” E-mail message. May 28, 2003. 7:32:34 p.m.

  sent out a longer message to the staff Rosemary Shields for Howell Raines. “A note from Howell and Gerald.” E-mail message. May 29, 2003. 11:47:40 a.m.

  “He said he was afraid” Behr to author.

  “I would also like to add” Rena Pederson. “Remarks at Pulitzer Prize Luncheon.” May 29, 2003. Availa
ble at www.pulitzer.org/resources/pederson_speech.htm.

  Safire began his talk William Safire. “Remarks at Pulitzer Prize Luncheon.” May 29, 2003. Available at http://www.pulitzer.org/resources/safire_speech.htm.

  “happy place” Author interview.

  Earlier that week, Abramson Abramson to author.

  “I knew there was a chance” Steinberg to author.

  “I tried to get a range” Norris to author.

  “We were all confused” Haberman to author.

  “Howell kept promising” Siegal to author.

  he flew to Washington Cohen and Rose, “Amid Turmoil, Top Editors Resign at New York Times.”

  “Even I was taken back” Abramson, Boccardi, Rosenthal, and Behr to author.

  “Gerald feels that Howell” Behr to author.

  On the third-floor newsroom Seth Mnookin. “A Sorry Sight.” Newsweek.com Web Exclusive. June 4, 2003.

  I received an e-mail “nyt nyt.” E-mail message to author. June 4, 2003. 3:54 p.m.

  New Endings, Old Beginnings

  At 10:30, an e-mail without a subject line E-mail message to New York Times newsroom. 10:30:36 a.m.

  “I want to talk with you,” Seth Mnookin. “Read All About It.” Newsweek. June 16, 2003. p. 34.

  “It’s been a tumultuous” Jacques Steinberg. “Times’s 2 Top Editors Resign After Furor on Writer’s Fraud.” The New York Times. June 6, 2003. p. A1.

  “I set out many years ago” Paul D. Colford et al. “Times Is Paper of Wreckage.” New York Daily News. June 6, 2003.

  grabbed his panama hat Author interviews.

  “I didn’t realize” Transcribed in newsroom for author.

  “When Joe spoke that first morning” Haberman to author.

  “This is a newsroom” Mnookin, “Read All About It.” p. 35.

  “The atmosphere of the place” Wilkins to author.

  “We had the entire operation” Tifft and Jones, The Trust, p. 568.

  soon coalesced around three candidates Mnookin, “A Sorry Sight.”

  In 2001, the Herald won Available at www.knightridder.com/papers/pulitzer/pulitzer_year.htm.

  In 2003, the Globe won Available at bostonglobe.com/newsroom/awards/pulitzers.stm.

  was seen outside the Times building Keith J. Kelly. “Boston Globe’s Baron at Times as Contest for Editor Heats Up.” New York Post. July 10, 2003. p. 35.

  New York’s Daily News reported Paul D. Colford. “Times Wish-List May Be One Short.” New York Daily News. June 20, 2003. p. 70.

  asked for time to appear Howard Kurtz. “Raines Says He Was Asked to Resign at N.Y. Times.” The Washington Post. July 12, 2003. p. C1.

  great artists who achieved Joe Hagan. “Raines Talk Show Is Deconstructed by Times Staff.” The New York Observer. July 21, 2003. p. 1.

  Once again, Jacques Steinberg Jacques Steinberg. “Bill Keller, Columnist, Is Selected as The Times’s Executive Editor.” The New York Times. July 15, 2003. p. A1.

  one of his first interviews Seth Mnookin. “ ‘Let’s Move On.’ ” Newsweek.com Web Exclusive. July 16, 2003.

  “Doing a lot of college football” Landman to author.

  Part Three

  AFTER

  “All About Howell”

  “When he was here” Kramon to author.

  “We are not the first” The Charlie Rose Show, April 14, 1994.

  “In the newspaper world” Simon Dumenco. “The Birth of Frankenblair,” Folio:. July 17, 2003. p. 7.

  “The Times was too big” Turner Catledge. My Life and The Times. New York: Harper & Row, 1971. pp. 187–88.

  “You cannot perform quality journalism” The Charlie Rose Show, August 6, 2002.

  “Everybody felt under siege” Wilkins to author.

  A New Team in Place

  Bill Keller, who became Steinberg. “Bill Keller, Columnist, Is Selected as The Times’s Executive Editor.”

  “What I expected” Keller to author.

  appointed Jill Abramson and John Geddes Jacques Steinberg. “2 Are Appointed at The Times to Managing Editor Positions.” The New York Times. August 1, 2003. p. A18.

  He promoted Jon Landman “Times Names Metropolitan Chief as Assistant Managing Editor.” The New York Times. September 26, 2003. p. A18.

  named Susan Edgerley “The New York Times Chooses New Editor for the Metro Section.” The New York Times. October 17, 2003. p. B3.

  Glenn Kramon was appointed “New Appointments for 2 Editors at Times.” The New York Times. October 29, 2003. p. A16.

  lured Larry Ingrassia away “Business Editor Is Appointed by the Times.” The New York Times. January 15, 2004. p. C2.

  Roger Cohen stepped down “Times Names Susan Chira Foreign Editor.” The New York Times. January 14, 2004. p. A8.

  Adam Moss agreed to take the lead “Times Names Editor to New Post for Features.” The New York Times. August 6, 2003. p. A15.

  succeeded at the magazine by his deputy “The Times Names New Editor of Magazine.” The New York Times. September 3, 2003. p. A15.

  Chip McGrath stepped down “Times Appoints Editor for Book Review.” The New York Times. March 11, 2004. p. E7.

  Keller persuaded Fortune’s Michele McNally “The Times Appoints Photography Director.” The New York Times. April 29, 2004. p. A23.

  promoted Philip Taubman David Carr. “The Times Names a New Chief of Its Bureau in Washington.” The New York Times. August 7, 2003. p. A5.

  lured Rick Flaste Tom McGeveran. “After Moss Departure, Times Starting Over on Book Review Boss.” The New York Observer. March 1, 2004. p. 1.

  “We knew the culture report” Rich to author.

  the Los Angeles Times was faced with forced layoffs “Los Angeles Times Cuts About 160 Jobs.” Los Angeles Times. June 22, 2004. p. C2.

  Keller made four prominent hires Nikke Finke. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers Part Deux.” LA Weekly. Web Exclusive Update. July 2, 2004.

  “I do think Arthur” Keller to author.

  left the Times to edit New York magazine David Carr. “New York Magazine Names an Editor from The Times.” The New York Times. February 12, 2004. p. C14.

  roiled by a series of petty See, for example, Sridhar Pappu. “Times Stars Spar: Reporters Rock Baghdad Bureau.” The New York Observer. January 19, 2004. p. 1.

  Keller gave an interview Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel. “The Plot Thickens at the New York Times Book Review.” Online Posting. Poynter Online—Book Babes. January 21, 2004. Available at www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=57&aid=59576.

  forcing him to publicly clarify See, for example, Paul Harris. “ ‘Betrayal’ by Literary Bible.” The Observer (London). February 8, 2004. p. 20.

  Keller, staffers grumbled Author interviews.

  can’t comment on future assignments Glater to author.

  “One of the great things” Barstow to author.

  came up with recommendations “Siegal Committee Report.”

  “The most important character quality” The Charlie Rose Show, April 14, 1994.

  “When I became foreign editor” Keller to author.

  “create a newsroom culture” “Siegal Committee Report.” p. 4.

  All three positions had been filled Jacques Steinberg. “The Times Chooses Veteran of Magazines and Publishing as Its First Public Editor.” The New York Times. October 27, 2003. p. A19. Also, Jacques Steinberg. “Times Names First Editor for Standards.” The New York Times. September 10, 2003. p. A20.

  a memo Kramon sent Glenn Kramon to newsroom. “Career Development Update.” March 11, 2004. 6:30 p.m.

  “This can be a big, scary” Kramon to author.

  “This was another of our periodic” Perl to author.

  The New Republic’s Stephen Glass Ann Reilly Dowd. “The Great Pretender.” Columbia Journalism Review. July–August 1998. Available at http://archives.cjr.org/year/98/4/glass.asp. Also, Buzz Bissinger. “Shattered Glass.” Vanity Fair. September 1998. pp. 176–190. Also, Editors’ Note. The New Republic. June 1, 1998. Also,
Howard Kurtz. “Stranger Than Fiction: The Cautionary Tale of Magazine Writer Stephen Glass.” p. 8. The Washington Post. May 13, 1998. p. A1.

  the Times’s own Blood Brothers dispatch Griffin. “Anti-White Harlem Gang Reported to Number 400.” Also, Griffin, “N.A.A.C.P. Assails Reports of Gang.”

  former USA Today reporter Blake Morrison. “USA Today Reporter Resigns After Deception.” USA Today. January 13, 2004. p. 5A.

  USA Today announced Peter Johnson. “USA Today to Review All of Reporter’s Work.” USA Today. January 16, 2004. p. 3A.

  the paper published an interim report Blake Morrison. “Ex–USA Today Reporter Faked Major Stories.” USA Today. March 19, 2004. p. 1A.

  three of the paper’s top editors David Folkenflik. “USA Today’s Culture Aided Reporter’s Deception, Panel Finds; 2 More Top Editors Resign After Plagiarism Scandal.” Baltimore Sun. April 23, 2004. p. A1.

  both of the country’s leading newsweeklies Liza Featherstone. “Chucking the Checkers.” Columbia Journalism Review. July–August 1997. Available at http://archives.cjr.org/year/97/4/checkers.asp.

  “God is not going to stop” Nicholas Lemann. “The Wayward Press.” The New Yorker. March 15, 2004. p. 136.

  In March 2004, a single paper David House. “Yanking Up the Weeds of Journalism.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 28, 2004. p. 1E.

  “The whole notion” Brill to author.

  “The consensus here, post Blair” Arthur Sulzberger. “Re: Final Question.” E-mail message to author. June 4, 2004. 1:51 p.m.

  “I don’t know” Lemann to author.

  Course Corrections

  Patrick Tyler wrote a piece headlined Patrick E. Tyler. “Threats and Responses: Terror Network.” The New York Times. February 6, 2003. p. A1.

  editors’ note and a column “From the Editors: The Times and Iraq.” The New York Times. May 26, 2004. p. A10. Also, Daniel Okrent. “Weapons of Mass Destruction? Or Mass Distraction?” The New York Times. May 30, 2004. Section 4, p. 2.

  Privately, some top editors Author interviews.

  most persistently and eloquently See, for example, “The Times Scoops That Melted: Cataloging the Wretched Reporting of Judith Miller.” Available at www.slate.com/id/2086110. July 25, 2003. Also, “Miller Time (Again): The New York Times Owes Readers an Explanation for Judith Miller’s Faulty WMD Reporting.” Available at www.slate.com/id/2095394. February 12, 2004. Also, “Surrender, Judith Miller! Knight Ridder Has the Goods on You.” Available at www.slate.com/id/2100747. May 24, 2004. Also, Michael Massing. “Now They Tell Us.” The New York Review of Books. February 26, 2004. p. 43. Also, Judith Miller et al. “ ‘Now They Tell Us’: An Exchange.” Letters to the Editor. The New York Review of Books. March 25, 2004. p. 45. Also, and Michael Massing. “Unfit to Print?” The New York Review of Books. June 24, 2004. p. 6.