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Faking It
This document summarizes several cases of journalistic malpractice involving fabrication and plagiarism. It discusses instances such as Joseph Mitchell creating composite stories for The New Yorker in 1944, Janet Cooke fabricating a story about an 8-year-old heroin addict for which she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1981, Stephen Glass fabricating numerous stories including creating a fake website, and Brian Williams being suspended from NBC News for lying about experiences covering the Iraq War. The document also discusses debates over accountability, fact checking, and restoring positions like public editor to help prevent such incidents.
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Faking It
- 1. Faking it A quickoverview of some notorious cases of journalistic malpractice
- 2. Joseph Mitchell • Legendarywriter for The New Yorker • In 1944 stories about the Fulton Fish Market, he created a composite • “I wanted these stories to be truthful rather than factual, but they are solidly based on facts.”
- 3. Joseph Mitchell • Differentera, different standards?
- 4. Joseph Mitchell • Differentera, different standards? • What do you think of his argument that truth can transcend facts?
- 5. Janet Cooke • Won1981 Pulitzer for “Jimmy’s World,” about an 8-year-old heroin addict • The Washington Post had to return the prize • The scandal ended Bob Woodward’s career as an editor
- 6. Janet Cooke • Whywould someone do this?
- 7. Janet Cooke • Whywould someone do this? • How could she believe she wouldn’t get caught?
- 8. Stephen Glass • Perhapsthe greatest fabulist of them all • “First Church of George Herbert Walker Christ” • Even created website of fake organization he had made up
- 9. Stephen Glass • Wedepend on trust of our editors — he betrayed Michael Kelly
- 10. Stephen Glass • Wedepend on trust of our editors — he betrayed Michael Kelly • He’s been contrite. Is it fair that he continue to pay a price?
- 11. The Globe’s summerfrom hell • Patricia Smith, Pulitzer nominee, was suddenly removed
- 12. The Globe’s summerfrom hell • Patricia Smith, Pulitzer nominee, was suddenly removed • Years of questions about Mike Barnicle were newly relevant
- 13. The Globe’s summerfrom hell • Patricia Smith, Pulitzer nominee, was suddenly removed • Years of questions about Mike Barnicle were newly relevant • A.J. Liebling plagiarism, more fabrications ended his Globe career
- 14. The Globe’s summerfrom hell • “Editors have to be able to trust what reporters and columnists write and say. Journalists do not make things up or present others’ writing and thought as their own.” — Howell Raines, editorial-page editor of The New York Times
- 15. Jayson Blair • Perhapsthe first major plagiarism case broken by the internet • Howell Raines and his deputy, Gerald Boyd, were forced out • Led to the Times’ hiring a public editor — a position since abolished
- 16. Jayson Blair • Areyou surprised to learn that editors have a right to know the identities of a reporter’s anonymous sources?
- 17. Jayson Blair • Areyou surprised to learn that editors have a right to know the identities of a reporter’s anonymous sources? • Are you surprised to learn that Raines never checked?
- 18. Mike Daisey • Fabricatedstory in 2012 about labor conditions in China • “This American Life” ran an hour-long retraction • Back to Mitchell: Daisey said he told a larger truth beyond facts
- 19. Mike Daisey • Inan era when journalism is seeking new modes of storytelling and connection, do problems such as this become more likely?
- 20. Brian Williams • Suspendedfor six months after lying about Iraq war incident • Other instances came up, including one related to Katrina • Demoted to MSNBC but continues to hold a prominent position
- 21. Brian Williams • Whydo you think NBC News didn’t fire him outright?
- 22. Brian Williams • Whydo you think NBC News didn’t fire him outright? • Does it matter that he didn’t tell these lies as part of his newscast?
- 23. Kevin Cullen • Respectedcolumnist known for his Whitey Bulger coverage • Investigation prompted by talk radio found he’d fabricated details about marathon bombing in interviews and remarks • Suspended for three months
- 24. Kevin Cullen • Aswith Williams, should it have mattered that Cullen’s fictions were not in the Globe?
- 25. Kevin Cullen • Aswith Williams, should it have mattered that Cullen’s fictions were not in the Globe? • What should he do to re-establish trust with his audience?
- 26. Discussion • What cannews organizations do to prevent such incidents from happening?
- 27. Discussion • What cannews organizations do to prevent such incidents from happening? • Do you think the public is surprised by such incidents? Or that it expects very little of us?
- 28. Discussion • What cannews organizations do to prevent such incidents from happening? • Do you think the public is surprised by such incidents? Or that it expects very little of us? • Would it help if positions such as public editor and ombudsmen were restored and taken seriously?