USA Today reporter resigns over probe

WashPost ^ | Jan 8 | Howard Kurtz

[GeronL]

Jack Kelley, a USA Today correspondent who has repeatedly risked his life in war zones around the world, resigned Tuesday after the paper's top editors questioned whether some of his stories were fabricated.

Kelley, 43, has been under scrutiny since June, when an anonymous letter accused him of falsifying stories. Another USA Today reporter, Mark Memmott, was assigned to try to verify Kelley's earlier work, according to sources familiar with the paper's internal investigation.

Kelley insisted yesterday that he had done nothing wrong. "Recent allegations were raised in the form of an anonymous letter, but they were proven to be false, as evidenced by the fact that no retraction or correction has been published," he said. "Nonetheless, USA Today and I have decided to go separate ways and I wish USA Today all the best." Kelley has told colleagues he felt that the atmosphere had become too hostile for him to continue.

Editor Karen Jurgensen confirmed the "investigation," saying: "We are in a position where we're not correcting anything at this time. . . . It's our policy to thoroughly investigate any suggestion of an inaccuracy." She said that Kelley "elected to resign." Jurgensen declined to characterize the investigation's findings or discuss the details because it involves "a personnel matter," but said there were no plans to continue the probe "based on what we know now."

One USA Today staffer said that the paper's investigation has wrongly suggested that Kelley might be another Jayson Blair, the New York Times reporter who resigned last year after admitting that he faked and plagiarized dozens of stories. This staffer and several others, all of whom declined to be identified because the editors had made no announcement about Kelley's status, say that is deeply unfair to a 21-year veteran who, among other things, was nearly killed in a terrorist attack on a Jerusalem pizza parlor.

[GeronL]

Read the rest at WashPost

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[GeronL]

But the paper ran into difficulty trying to confirm a 2000 report in which Kelley wrote that he accompanied nine Cubans "under the dim light of a crescent moon" as they waded toward a boat to try to escape to Florida. Kelley used only first names to describe the Cubans, including a pregnant woman who he said fell into the water as she tried to climb into the smugglers' boat. A condensed version was later published in Reader's Digest

[GeronL]

On Sept. 28, 2001, as the United States was preparing for war with Afghanistan, Kelley stirred controversy with a front-page story saying that special-operations commandos had been inside that country for two weeks looking for bin Laden. Many journalists were unable to confirm the story at the time, although The Washington Post reported three weeks later that U.S. special forces had more recently begun operating in Afghanistan.

[GeronL]

David Aikman, a former Time correspondent, said he has worked with Kelley in Moscow, Hong Kong and Jerusalem and "it's inconceivable to me that he would invent a story. He's one of the bravest reporters I've ever come across."

[GeronL]

Kelley, who has told friends he has lost 25 pounds in recent months, said yesterday that he was "very appreciative" of the opportunities he had at USA Today. But colleagues say he believes that he made his share of enemies at the paper and that the allegations were prompted by professional jealousy.

A 2001 profile in Christian Life magazine began this way: "He has been stalked by snipers, caught in a Kosovo minefield, and arrested in Cuba. He has watched helplessly as children starved in Somalia and stood over mass graves in Rwanda. He has tracked crime bosses in Russia and read the diaries of soldiers slain during the Persian Gulf War."

Kelley, who told the magazine he attends an evangelical church, was quoted as saying: "Journalism is a calling. I feel God's pleasure when I write and report. It isn't because of the glory, but because God has called me to proclaim truth, and to worship and serve him through other people."

[#3Fan]

Kelley insisted yesterday that he had done nothing wrong. "Recent allegations were raised in the form of an anonymous letter, but they were proven to be false, as evidenced by the fact that no retraction or correction has been published,"

Ha! Paraphrasing: "There's proof I didn't lie because there was no admission of a lie."

Maybe he didn't lie but the fact he didn't admit to it is not proof.

[HAL9000]

The burden of proof is on the accusers, and they haven't been able to substantiate any of their claims yet. So my presumption is that Jack Kelley's reports in USA Today were accurate.

[GeronL]

This guy actually sounds innocent for a change.

[Timesink]

Schadenfreude

This is the New York Times USA Today Schadenfreude Ping List. (I'm too tired to change the graphic.) Freepmail me to be added or dropped.

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[SUSSA]

Kelley should go to work for Fox. Whoraldo fabricated war stories and even broadcast the location of some of our troops and Fox treats him like a credible journalist.

[Miss Marple]

I believe the real answer to this is found in the last paragraph. Kelly attends an evangelical church and feels called by God to write the truth.

It is my opinion that someone on the paper didn't like the fact that he was a Christian, and sent an anonymous letter making the accusations.

[SUSSA]

You may well be right. Good catch.

[MEG33]

I can't see any proof offered of his wrongdoing.

[Miss Marple]

That's my point. The paper investigated four stories and all were verified. The REAL story is why they took an anonymous letter and started an investigation...and how there seems to be an element of jealousy in the staff.

I found that little item about his church membership to be quite interesting.

[Wait4Truth]

You and I agree. It looks like USA Today is another paper that just can't accept a Christian on its staff. I doubt it will take him long to find a job with a "right-wing radical" paper like the Washington Times.

[MEG33]

I don't want to think his faith made him a target but I suspect it didn't sit right with some of the"worldly" types.

[Dog]

His story about the Special Forces being in Afghanistan right after 9/11.....is correct from what I've read.

We had boots on the ground days after 9/11.

[mass55th]

USA Today is published by the Gannett Press which historically, has always been liberal in its coverage.

[Miss Marple]

What is see from reading this story is a grade A case of envy and spite from someone on the paper. An anonymous letter was sent, and the paper, instead of discounting it because it was anonymous (and never wondering why someone outside the paper would accuse a reporter anonymously) launched an investigation, no doubt with the "help" of some of the very people who were envious of him. I have no doubt that his Christianity was the motive.

And now, here is another thing to ask about. Why is this a story in the Washington Post? Who leaked this to the Washington Post? And why was that little comment about his church put in at the end? Someone is trying to make it hard for Mr. Kelly to get another job, it looks like to me.