This has not been the greatest summer for journalism.
First college reporter extraordinaire Liane Membis was fired from her Wall Street Journal internship for inventing quotes. Then an NPR intern was caught writing about a Taliban execution that he didn’t actually witness. And now name-brand New Yorker journalist Jonah Lehrer has quit his post after getting caught self-plagiarizing and fabricating quotes.
Again, this has not been the greatest summer for journalism.
While this cannot possibly be the first time any journalist has committed these offenses, the case of guilty-as-charged Lehrer has confirmed one thing about today’s media industry: While you can still thrive, achieving stardom is now harder than ever and involves going above and beyond past demands placed on journalists.
Why’s that? Just think of how much technology has changed the field.
We now live in a time where more people than ever can access the same information online or away from their computers on a mobile. News now travels the world faster than it did in the past, and as a result it’s also very quickly replaced by the next event that comes along. Information appears quickly, fades quickly, but also accesses the largest audience it ever could before disappearing. Because of all that, more and more people, as you have heard, can and have taken to the net to report on the latest local, national, and international events of importance, adding in their own point of view to make the material their own.
Nowadays, just reporting the news isn’t enough. You’re expected to go beyond that if you want to distinguish yourself in a field of people who not only want to write, but have access to much of the same information you do. While it does help if you exceed them as a writer or if you have more actual sources to go off of, you’re still going to have to strive harder in a pool of ambitious people who possess more information on average than ever before.
And that’s just if you want to be very good. If you want to be a name brand or achieve some other equivalent level of stardom, you better start doing one of two things: Either present a relatively unique, never-been-explored perspective on your stories, or start becoming an idea man.
A lot of the time, you’re going to have to do both, which is exactly what Jonah Lehrer was striving to for.
There’s a recent Slate article by Josh Levin that faintly alludes to this demand. Levin has branded Lehrer as an idea man, one whose career is no longer that of a writer, but of a man whose very livelihood depends on how quickly he can come up with well-thought up societal commentaries. This has actually proven to be very accurate, as Lehrer’s fame resulted, for the most part, from his opinion posts and books. They’re what supposedly made him unique, distinguishable to media consumers everywhere.
Distinguishable in an increasingly competitive field. While becoming an idea man (or woman, if you prefer) has always allowed a writer or reporter to achieve greater fame and prestige than their peers, nowadays it’s almost a necessity.
And that necessity itself stacks on the pressure, especially if you can’t churn content out as often as you would like. Given the intense pressure that comes with the expectation to constantly produce the unique and new, it wouldn’t be surprising if more and more writers started taking desperate measures.
I do think Levin really hit the nail on the head with this one. It’s not hard to imagine that given all the expectations upon him and the demand to constantly search for new and improved ideas, Jonah Lehrer got desperate. If he didn’t keep up with it all, there was a good chance that Lehrer wouldn’t have been as acclaimed as he was prior to Michael Moynihan’s discovery that he had fabricated some Bob Dylan quotes, and the discovery that he had been re-posting previous material.
Lehrer understood that the reporter’s game had changed, and that the faster-than-ever flow of information and ideas meant that every journalist constantly needs to redefine and redesign themselves to match the need.
And to be honest, that’s actually kind of scary. It’s scary how what was once an industry based on slower-paced news reporting and column writing has now given way to a race to think of never-before read or seen things. It’s also scary to think about how one day when I’m out of UChicago, I’ll be thrust into all this.
Guess there’s no point worrying now, but perhaps I should start thinking things up. Might just help in the future.
i will read your blog, blogwalking, friend!
Irregardless of the times, journalism requires honesty. I’m glad I don’t make a living doing it but I so admire the wonder of a good wordsmith. There’s nothing better than those who can articulate well what is in my mind that I cannot say. I think, irregardless of the times, that is timeless.
Alexandria Sage
I totally agree with you simplysage. ALL professions are faced with pressure points in their history. In today’s rapidly changing world, very few professions or occupations are stable – just ask librarians. There is always pressure somewhere to cheat – just ask professional athletes. Professional integrity matters, it is how you are judged by your peers and your clients.
What you have outlined here in this article might be reasons for his behaviour, but at the end of the day they are just excuses. Is getting to the top in journalism hard – sure. Getting to the top in most things is. But, this is no excuse for cheating or bringing your profession into disrepute. Things like this, or the recent court cases in the UK reflect on all journalists and newspapers. It undermines the value of the one thing professional journalists have over random information from other sources – reliability. A lot of professions are going back to the drawing board and looking at what the have that makes them unique – core strengths.
The journalistic landscape may have changed, but the need for quality journalism, with reporting people can rely on is just as strong as it ever was.
Hello!
Thank you for reading, and I’m glad the post made you want to discuss a few points. I definitely agree with you that what I have presented here can be viewed as excuses, but at the end of the day this post is simply exploring one factor that determines why journalists do cheat and take those shortcuts. I can go on and on about other reasons that are at play, and I can also write a whole other post about why quality journalist is still needed, but for now, I’ve narrowed down the scope a bit to focus on one point.
Thanks for the input, though! I really appreciate it.
And I agree with waterlexeme and the last line says it all. The journalist needs to build a reputation by staying consistent, honest, and work to hone writing skills. That voice will rise above all the noise. Readers are pretty smart in the long run. They will know who to go to. It all takes time and there are no shortcuts. But if you start honest and stay honest you build a reputation of integrity. There just is no substitute.
i’m a french journalist an a totally agree with this post..we have to do someting different ! reporting a news is not enough today, that’s why i create my blog, a journalist to me must be engaged..i choose few months ago to di this, because can ‘t stand anymore to report only bad news, to my boss a positiv information is not an information,to him we need to talk about crime, accident, butt all the bad events just bring people to feel scared …i know that there is also beautiful person in these world because i’ve met them, during mys travels and my life, si i ve decided to tlak about them in my blog…because i think people need to be encouraged, a journalist has a responsiblity to me, it’s time to take back our power ….thank you for this post ! i will come back:) have a beautiful day !!!!
Very good article! It’s safe to assume that fabrication and plagiarism have been alive in journalism since its very inception But like you mentioned, the internet gives us access to such a large pool of information that it is now easier to catch writers red-handed. The web has completely changed the rules of the game.
Also, your point about embracing a unique perspective quickly and efficiently is dead on. This is the kind of approach I take when writing my blogs, though it usually takes me too long to write my stories for my them to have any timely impact
Great post. I’m a former journalist and think you’ve hit on one important factor: Young people in the profession are trying to become stars. Never mind reporting the news and trying to bring quality stories to the masses, it’s now all about becoming a name brand.
When you get right down to it, faking quotes or stories in their entirety is a symptom of extreme laziness. Instead of putting in the hard work and making the sacrifices journalism requires, some young reporters are obviously trying to take short cuts–with detrimental results.
I’m a current journalist, and I don’t think “young people” are trying to become stars any more than the reporters who came before them. If anything, the generation of journos who started reporting after Watergate had plans to become big-shot name brands. In our generation, we’ve grown up knowing everyone hates the media.
Anyway, loved the post! I’ve only been in the field for a short time, and I’ve already noticed your ideas matter even more than your writing. Employers are looking for people who can innovate. A good story isn’t enough! They want a good story, an interactive graphic, and some kind of social media launch.
The pressure is intense, but I don’t think there’s ever been a more exciting time to go into journalism.
I’m a journalism major, graduating next year. The course work is interesting right now because the industry is changing rapidly like you’re pointing out. No one knows where communications is going to be in five years. Or next year. But it’s a great opportunity to rise to the challenge in creative and original ways.
Really! Where do you study, if you don’t mind answering? I’m looking at journalism schools for when I graduate in two years, so your input would be great!
Sacramento State, I’m working on my BA. I’m working on my BS in Women’s Studies as well, I’m a double major. But for your MA? If I were in your position I would look into UC Berkeley, that was my plan if I ended up not going to J school. But now that I am I’m looking unto one of Berkeley’s Ph.D programs. Something that I like about some J schools, like for example Berkeley, they are changing with the face of communications, making students competitive, competent, and creative journalists. You should check out the department’s website and see some of their projects. Good luck to you hopefully I see you in the field!
Ahh that’s cool! Yeah I’m a poli sci/french major at UChicago. I was looking at Columbia and Northwestern as well, but have heard great things about Berkeley.
See you someday as well! All the best to you.
You make stuff up, you get caught, you’re dead.
Nothing hard here. Despite the pressure, report. Get the real quotes.
Lehrer failed the test. He’s dead…for at least a month. He should go and pump gas for the rest of time; he will resurface.
You’re right, he will be back, and that’s something that’s actually really aggravating. If you’ve followed up with the Liane Membis and NPR intern case as well, you’ll find that Membis is rumored to still be writing for CNN once in a while, and the NPR intern got to keep his post. I think there needs to be some kind of justice when reporters are caught cheating and taking short-cuts, but it seems that a lot of them can still get away with it.
That’s just my own thoughts, though. Do you think most actually do get away with it? Hell, might even write another post on the subject.
There is no such thing as an “Original Idea”. The public trust in Journalism had already been dying for decades long before the internet came along.
I agree that the public trust in journalism has been dying, but I was mainly elaborating on one big factor that makes these young up-and-comers feel as though they need to cheat. As for the concept that there is no such thing as an “original idea,” I’m curious as to why you think that. I can see where you’re coming from and I do agree with you to a certain extent, but I’m curious to hear more.
Either way, thanks for reading!
A timely posting, thanks.
The quality of media news has fallen drastically over the last decade or two, and in particular, the last two years.
You’re right, speed and pressure are contributing factors, but unfortunately, so is “sensationalism”. Make it juices, ignore the boring facts, put spin into in so the headlines attract a greater readership.
This has further degenerated to the point where the news is not actually being reported, but being used as a vehicle for the Editors opinion (of the news event) to ride on. The news becomes the Editors biased opinion of the news.
I could go on for ages here, as it’s one of my pet hates, but I won’t.
I’ll just finish by suggesting a bit of honesty by TV stations with the evening’s news.
I would like to see the beginning with the news presenter saying “Good evening, here is the seven o’clock opinion”.
Thanks for starting this topic.
And thank you for reading! Hope to have you back here soon.
Very interesting. I knew that journalism was changing drastically, but this shines a whole new light on it. Thanks for sharing!
http://stepstochangetheworld.wordpress.com/
As a journalism student, this is terrifying to me. I’ve been taught about the ever-changing modern journalism industry, but living it will be something entirely different. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Jonah made stuff up, and Jonah recycled articles to the New Yorker no less.
Jonah forgot the number one basic rule of non fiction writing, Do Not Make Stuff UP. Ever. So young aspiring journalist Annie, I know you were being ironic, in your last sentence, as in I better start making stuff up so I can survive the heavy pressures of this now lightning fast world of journalism, but really don’t ever go there. Thanks to the speed of the internet, it is easier than ever to catch journalists in deception.
There are people, now as I write, who are busy scrutinizing every word Jonah ever wrote and they are finding more made up quotes and sloppy writing.
I recommend reading the very current and timely novel, “The Spoiler” by Annalena McAfee, it is a satire, it is hilarious and she describes the very practice Jonah used, making up quotes and recycling articles….And frankly there is no excuse at all for what Jonah did, none, zip, nada. But what the heck, he is probably going to write a book about all of this and come up roses….
Thank you for sharing this. I’m a Journalism student starting next year, and I think it’s amazing to share great, honest story’s. If you lie to create a more exciting story, you have no proud in your job at all. No wonder people have no trust in Journalism. (I don’t speak English very well, because I’m Dutch. I’m sorry if I made mistakes.)
I don’t envy your choice of profession…I was involved in Journalism for 6 years…I wanted to be a broadcast journalist…I decided long ago, that the profession wasn’t for me…Today the cut and paste of internet news, makes me believe I made the right choice…I still write and marvel at what the news today has become…Honesty in the news is the best policy…Best of luck with your profession…I will be reading your blog frequently…
I hadn’t thought about it this way, but you’re right! In the second half of the 20th century, excellent news columnists typically wrote no more than three columns a week. Newspaper editorial pages had high standards. They typically published at least one decent editorial a day, and it was well-researched, thought out, and polished writing. But large newspapers had a STAFF of full-time editorial writers. Investigative reporters routinely spent several weeks working on a single story. A major investigative series might be a year or more in the making, and required collaboration of several reporters, editors, photogs, with support from the newspaper’s staff librarians or researchers.
It’s true that small-town dailies usually had reporting staffs of fewer than 10, including sports. Apprentice reporters were expected to churn out at least one story a day, usually two, and maybe a few briefs and obits. The quality was uneven, to say the least.
Fast forward to 2012. Newspaper staffs have been shredded. Newsrooms that once filled an entire floor of a downtown building have shrunken to a few dozen reporters. They’re expected to cover all the daily news of an entire metro area, 24-7. They miss a lot of stories, or cover them superficially. Much of the news throughout metro areas goes completely uncovered.
Blogging exemplifies the problem. Common wisdom says good bloggers should write a post every day. Or more! Those of us who were career journalists understand that only a fraction of reporters and bloggers can maintain high quality while working at such a pace, day after day, week after week.
If the information you’re reporting is routine, a good reporter or blogger can consistently turn out one medium-length, garden-variety story four or five times a week. If you’re doing research or your work demands critical analysis, in addition to reporting, two or three good essays a week is a reasonable expectation. If you’re a blogger with a full-time job and family obligations, adjust your productivity goals appropriately.
Great comments, John H. Interesting.
As a journo, I am afraid our 24/7 news cycle will only enable the Jonah Lehrers of the world. As in the case of the Janet Cooke scandal at the Washington Post in 1980, similar fabrications run the risk of maligning entire communities (i.e. poor people of color).
On another note, I’d rather see journalists strive for richer context in stories. Instead of running faster, dive deeper.
What price fame? Integrity. The lack of integrity seems to be an epidemic suffered by many professions. I remember when I was in the Summer Program for Minority Journalists at U.C. Berkeley that my colleagues were advocates of the people, seeking out information that was relevant to a variety of people and presenting it in an understandable and inoffensive manner. Following the movie release of “All the President’s Men” a lot of people entered journalism school. Many of those sought to uncover corruption and many sought the next”Watergate” story and the glitter they thought would be attached. I still think of the press as the “Fourth Estate.” Responsibility comes with that role. I have seen people too lazy to report and write and therefore supplement their stories with work others have published. We owe ourselves and the public better than this.
It seems like technically everyone who’s active on Facebook and Twitter are journalists. And the pace is astounding. I often feel glued to my computer and iPhone reading the ENDLESS postings of thousands of people, many of whom I know personally. I got a Master’s in Journalism from Regent University. It hasn’t paid off at all. But I love blogging.