On May 11, 2003, The New York Times devoted four pages of its Sunday paper to the deceptions of Jayson Blair, a mediocre former Times...
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Aug 02, 2007
Ryan
rated it: 
Completely compelling story. Fascinating look into the newspaper world. I do have to warn anyone ordering this through Amazon.com - because I ordered it, I was recommended a "Mr. Big FlexoFlesh Realistic Dildo (Mulato)" (I still have the screen grab because I thought it was so funny) - I couldn't tell if it was just because the word Hard was in the title, or if Amazon was insinuating a lifestyle suggestion for a woman ordering a non-fiction book about the New York Times. Either way
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Jul 18, 2010
Kirsti
rated it: 
I thought this was a book about the Jayson Blair scandal (in which it turned out that a Times reporter had not only plagiarized other reporters but also sometimes failed to even make it to the scene where he was supposedly reporting from). Then I thought it was about Howell Raines, the brilliant but flawed executive editor who tried to make the Times submit to his cult of personality. Finally I realized that the book is actually about how highly intelligent and well-meaning people can make decis
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Apr 17, 2010
The sign of a great book: I finished this one in three days flat. NY Times plagiarism scandal of 2002, written as one part suspenseful detective story (reporters on the trail of deception), one part analysis of management styles as they affect workplace culture (how the bullish editor-in-chief created an atmosphere where people weren't allowed to question/debate/second-guess him), one part history of a media institution. Favourite quote: when the publisher asked the frustrated Washington burea
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Feb 18, 2010
Noah
rated it:
If you're looking for an accessible book about the changing nature of the news industry, this isn't it. This book is pure inside baseball, a detailed retracing of what happened in the NYT newsroom in the years post-9/11, with particular attention to the Jayson Blair scandal. I enjoyed it a lot, but it's definitely not for everyone.
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May 16, 2011
Therman
rated it:
A bit repetitive and chronologically difficult to follow. Mnookin does a great job of pulling readers into the story, making them sympathetic to the reporters and the conditions they were in in the year following 9/11.
Jan 20, 2009
Phil
rated it: 
Even the most hard-core newspaper has scandal and the New York Times has had plenty. The cover may look plain but this reads like a soap opera.....and that's a good thing.
Jan 13, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
Extremely good look into the problems of ethics that face even the most prestigious of news outlets.
Apr 25, 2008
Morgan
rated it:
The details of the story about Jayson Blair (what a kook!) in this book are reason enough to warrant its purchase, but the rest of it is top-notch as well. I'm hoping it becomes a movie one day. (book-rights pending)
Jun 17, 2008
Emily
rated it:
I loved it because it was sensational. My editors say that it was exaggerated, but I have yet to read a more complete story of the Raines era at The Times.
Apr 16, 2008
Toph
rated it: 
Fairly good book, not a terribly slow read. Interesting if you are interested in the news media, the New York Times, or Howell Raines.
Apr 17, 2008
Janejellyroll
rated it:
Mnookin manages to cram a huge amount of information about the modern American newspaper business in a short, very readable, book.
Aug 21, 2007
Chuck
rated it:
The best media book I've read in a very long while (although the writer's objectivity seems to wane down the stretch).
Jan 06, 2010
Amy
rated it:
An interesting book. Much more interesting when you're working at the Times. I'd recommend it to anyone who's new here.
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