Writer's work for USA Today called false

[BigDeputyDog]

Jack Kelley, a star foreign correspondent at USA Today before he resigned earlier this year, appears to have fabricated substantial portions of at least eight major articles in the last 10 years, including one that earned him a finalist nomination for a Pulitzer Prize in 2002, the newspaper reported yesterday.

USA Today, the nation's largest-circulation newspaper, said Mr. Kelley had engaged in his deceptions around the globe, apparently inventing such first-hand accounts as his face-to-face encounter with a suicide bomber in Jerusalem, his participation in a high-speed hunt for Osama bin Laden, and his witnessing the departure of six refugees from Cuba who, he claimed, later drowned in a storm.

Another case of a journalist padding his own stories in the quest for honors and accolades. Is there any wonder the public is becoming skeptical and distrustful of the news that enters into their homes? I've seen misquoted and erroneous articles published in the paper on an up-close and personal level.

Mr. Kelly had some grand schemes to cover his tracks...

Yesterday, the newspaper published a script Mr. Kelley had apparently prepared for a man in Jerusalem, asking that he play the role of "David," an Israeli intelligence agent who might assure his editors of the accuracy of an article he had written from Hebron in 2001 about "vigilante Jewish settlers" who were "shooting and beating Palestinians."

"I need you to be `David' one more time," Mr. Kelley implored in the message, which was dated July 18, 2003 and found on his laptop. "This will be it. I promise. No more."

:eek:

Full story HERE. (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/20/business/media/20PAPE.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5062&en=f9a681e594bcfb5b&ex=1080363600&partner=GOOGLE)

BDD...

[Sierra Mike]

Totally off the wall. Can't say you mischaracterized his motivations...this is obviously one big bad apple that's gonna spoil a whole cart.

SM

[Coot]

I guess Bernstein wasn't far off the mark. (http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/19/Tampabay/Ex_Watergate_writer_l.shtml) If we're not going to demand more from them than what we're currently getting, this ends up being just the latest fart in a whirlwind.


But mostly he talked about an epidemic that troubles him deeply these days. He calls it "the triumph of idiot culture."

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 at the Wyndham Westshore, he placed most of the blame on modern media outlets.

Bernstein, the former Washington Post journalist who, along with fellow reporter Bob Woodward, unearthed the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, said much of today's news has deteriorated into gossip, sensationalism and manufactured controversy.

That type of news panders to the public and insults their intelligence, ignoring the context of real life, he said. Good journalism, Bernstein said, "should challenge people, not just mindlessly amuse them."

He said the modern press lacks true leadership, citing such examples as AOL Time Warner and mogul Rupert Murdoch as media owners that have increasingly abandoned the principles of meaningful reporting.

[yazdzik]

Dear Friends,
I am rather less than convinced that phrase "Congress shall make no law....abridging freedom...nor of the press...." can be stretched to mean that such a turd is protected from being sued for breach by his employers, nor having his press credentials removed.
To betray such a high public trust is worthy of Scalia; to think that a reporter would use his protected position to disseminate prevarication is yet another blow to the land of the formerly brave. If we cannot demand an open press without the yellow journalism, or statesmen without the celebrity, then it is logical that our only response to the difficulties of the age of terrorism would be to attack petty dictators to influence policy.
If neither our press nor military intelligence acts without interest, then the ability to vote, the ability for those elected to make decisions, thus, ultimately, the ability for a contracted constitutional government based upon reasoned processing of information to survive, is highly doubtful.
All good wishes,
Yazdzik

[cdw]

Makes ya wonder just what value the Pulitzer Prize really has :)

[Robert Harris]

Makes ya wonder just what value the Pulitzer Prize really has :)

That plus a token gets you a ride on the subway..