The Blair Affair

The New York Times has published a detailed account of the deceptions perpetrated by African-American reporter Jayson Blair, who plagiarized other journalists' work and fabricated details of stories about topics including the DC sniper and the war in Iraq. The Blair scandal has prompted speculation that affirmative action got him special newsroom treatment on account of his race. Amy Alexander points out, however, journalism has plenty of "miscreants from the overwhelming white and male press corps." The real difference is that when white guys like Mike Barnicle, Stephen Glass and Bob Greene do something to besmirch journalism, they have often "managed to resurrect themselves following their supposed falls from grace. ... As usual, white men are the main beneficiaries of that particular perk."