I Got Caught Fabricating Stories for the New York Times

I Got Caught Fabricating Stories for the New York Times

From What It Was Like by Superreal

May 2, 2026 · 41 min · Season 1 · Episode 133

About this episode

Jayson Blair discusses his rise and fall in journalism after being caught fabricating stories for the New York Times.

In 2003, Jayson Blair was a rising star in journalism, until he got caught plagiarising stories and inventing details. What followed was one of the most high-profile downfalls in modern media. In this ep, Jayson reflects on why he lied, how he got away with it for so long, and how it felt when everything collapsed. Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast Find us on Youtube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Follow us on Instagram: whatitwaslikepodcast This is a Superreal production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Guest: Jayson Blair

Topics covered

  • journalism
  • plagiarism
  • media downfall
  • personal reflection
  • truth and lies

Keywords

  • Jayson Blair
  • New York Times
  • plagiarism
  • journalism scandal
  • media ethics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times, Superreal, Acast

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