Physicians have the term “iatrogenic” to describe illness caused by physicians. There is now a need for a new word, “mediagenic”, to describe scandals which have their origin in malpractice by the mass media. The indictment of Lewis “Scooter” Libby is a mediagenic scandal. A review of the origin of the Wilson/Plame firestorm provides insight into the operations and integrity of two leading member of America’s elite press corps