First published 2006
Daniel Okrent takes readers inside his eighteen months as the New York Times' inaugural Public Editor, a role created after the Jayson Blair scandal brought down Executive Editor Howell Raines. From December 2003 to May 2005, Okrent operated without newsroom interference to assess whether America's newspaper of record delivered objective, accurate, and complete reporting. He tackled controversial subjects from WMD coverage to reporter self-promotion, from political bias to corrections policy, even weighing in on Tony Awards coverage. His critiques delighted and frustrated readers while creating tension within the newsroom itself. Okrent presents his complete columns alongside candid reflections on what worked, what failed, and what he learned about journalism's possibilities and limitations. This collection reveals both the strengths of elite journalism and the areas where it falls short.
Genres: politics, non-fiction, journalism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective
Setting: New York Times
Period: 2003-2005
304 pages · Hardcover · PublicAffairs