by johan

The New York Times and the journalism industry at large have promoted a form of branded hero journalism that has reached its peak in high-budget podcasts that invariably privilege the reporter’s own experience and journey to understanding. There might be murder and crimes against humanity, but what ultimately matters is how the journalist learns about and comes to terms with these horrors. The problem with Caliphate was not just its source (and the source’s sketchy documentation); it was also the personality-driven model of journalism on which it was premised. Journalism suffers when it dramatizes its own construction.