Howard Kurtz asks if reporter has "regrets" over verbatim quotes that cost McChrystal his job

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Rolling Stone Reporter Michael Hastings: Reporters Write Puff Pieces For Access
By Susie Madrak Monday Jun 28, 2010 7:00am



http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/rolling-stone-reporter-michael-hastin

Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings was on "Reliable Sources" this morning, and he blew a few of Howard Kurtz's theories out of the water - first, by telling him the most sensational quotes weren't the result of hanging around for two weeks, but were things he was told in the first two days.

Kurtz asked if he thought other reporters went easy on McChrystal and Hastings said McChrystal's staff gave unprecedented access with the expectation that reporters will write "puff pieces".

KURTZ: Michael Hastings, welcome.

Stanley McChrystal gave you an unusual degree of access. And your reporting cost him his job. Any regrets about that?

MICHAEL HASTINGS: I went out to try to tell the best story that I could and write what I saw, I heard and thought. And I had really no control over, you know, the aftereffects. And that really wasn't what I was focusing on. What I was focusing on was trying to write the best story that I could to bring attention to the war in Afghanistan.

I did not expect the fallout that occurred. In fact, I didn't even think that it was possible for General McChrystal to even get fired.

KURTZ: And he got fired rather quickly by President Obama.

Do you think that McChrystal and his top aides got so used to your hanging around that they let their guard down?

HASTINGS: No. I don't think that was the case, because some of the most talked-about parts of the piece happened within the first 24 hours that I was with his team.

One of the most -- I guess people have called it inflammatory passages is when I quote a top adviser saying, "Biden -- did you say 'bite me'?" That was the second morning I was with them in Paris covering an on-the-record meeting that they were having to prepare for a speech later on.

I mean, in fly-on-the-wall journalism, you're there to capture exactly those kinds of moments.

[spanone]

1. kurtz wouldn't know a real journalist if they bit him on the nose

the military thinks they own the media...GOD BLESS ROLLING STONE

[gratuitous]

2. My goodness, Mr. Hastings

Mr. Kurtz was being as gentle as he could about upbraiding you for your faux pas, and yet even then, you seem oblivious to the damage you wrought. It's almost as if you don't know how things are done, dear boy. I mean, your own words are more damning than anything I could possibly hang on you: "I went out to try to tell the best story that I could and write what I saw, heard and thought." My, my, my, my, my, my, my! Where even to begin? I'm sure it taxed Mr. Kurtz's composure to the ultimate not to faint dead away at such a brash, uninformed statement!

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

:thumbsup: