0:00:22 > 0:00:25This programme contains strong language.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30There are so many show-offs in journalism,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32so many braggarts and jerks.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34They're always selling, always working the room,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38always trying to make themselves look hotter than they actually are.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42The good news is reporters like that make it easy to distinguish yourself.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44If you're even a little bit humble,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46a little self-effacing or solicitous,
0:00:46 > 0:00:47you stand out.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50So you bring a coworker lunch if he's buried under a deadline.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52You remember birthdays.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It's true - journalism is hard work, everybody's under pressure,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58everybody's grinding to get the issue out, nobody's getting any sleep,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02but you are allowed to smile every once in a while.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I mean, even Woodward and Bernstein went out for a burger now and then,
0:01:05 > 0:01:07and they won a Pulitzer.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Some reporters think it's political content that makes a story memorable.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15I think it's the people you find -
0:01:15 > 0:01:18their quirks, their flaws, what makes them funny,
0:01:18 > 0:01:19what makes them human.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Journalism is just the art of capturing behaviour.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30You have to know who you're writing for
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and you have to know what you're good at.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36I record what people do. I find out what moves them, what scares them.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41And I write that down. That way they're the ones telling the story.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And you know what? Those kind of pieces can win Pulitzers too.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49MOUTHS SILENTLY
0:02:38 > 0:02:43- WOMAN:- Contributing writer For 'Harper's Magazine'.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Contributing writer for 'George' magazine.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Contributing writer for 'Rolling Stone'.
0:02:50 > 0:02:56And of course, associate editor of the 'New Republic' magazine
0:02:56 > 0:02:58in Washington, DC.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Sorry if I'm beaming, but, you know, I was his journalistic muse.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It's true.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Just seven years ago, he was sitting...
0:03:10 > 0:03:11Right there.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14I'm sorry.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Right there.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19And I was doing the exact same thing you guys are doing -
0:03:19 > 0:03:22writing out pieces and then having horrid nightmares
0:03:22 > 0:03:24of Mrs Duke and her infamous red pen.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32And see what happens when greatness is demanded of you?
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Now he's at the 'New Republic'.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And now I'm at the 'New Republic'.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- REPORTER:- In May, the editors of the 'New Republic' magazine...
0:04:00 > 0:04:02- REPORTER 2:- ..the 'Washington Post', the 'New Republic'
0:04:02 > 0:04:03and the 'Boston Globe'.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06But the bill was blasted in the 'New Republic' this week.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08They called it a pitiful act...
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- MAN:- I just wanted to get confirmation on...
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- MAN 2:- So I said network news...
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Oh, right, that's that show that's on every night
0:05:19 > 0:05:21between those Fixodent commercials, right?
0:05:21 > 0:05:22- MAN:- Shut him up.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- Hey, Steve. - Hey, Steve.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Hey, guys.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Gloria, that necklace is you.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Thanks, doll. I got some new merchandise.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- For your girlfriend. - As soon as I get this piece done.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37- How's it coming? - Horrible.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Uh-huh.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42It's the fundamental nature of the magazine, Lew.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Miller, can I get some coffees, please?
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Sure.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47If people want photographs, they can buy 'Newsweek'.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48They DO buy 'Newsweek'.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50And 'Time' and 'US News' and 'World Report'
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and our losses are a joke.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Let me guess - he's on you again about a redesign.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- Yeah. Cover page and graphics. - Yeah, and photographs.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Let me remind you, Steve,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03this magazine hasn't changed its look since the '80s.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06How is it?
0:06:06 > 0:06:08It's good.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- You hate it. - No, it's good, it's good.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12It's just a little rough.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14No, it's the worst thing I ever wrote. It's horrible.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17If you guys don't help me with it, I'm not even gonna send it in.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- When's it due? - Tomorrow.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24I may have to kill myself.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I mean, the 'New York Times Magazine'!
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Will you guys help me with it? Please?
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- Of course. - Of course.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Thank you.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Call for you on three, sweetie. Someone from 'Policy Review'.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39When did you start talking to 'Policy Review'?
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I'm not. It's probably nothing.
0:06:41 > 0:06:42Send it to my voicemail, OK?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- Oh, and, sweetie... - Mm-hm?
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Caitlin just told me that she needs gifts for two showers next week.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49You think you might have something for her?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51I'll get my box.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54- Hmm. - I couldn't resist.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56- So you wanna do this now? - Yeah, in a second.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58I just have to return a quick phone call.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02I got you some gum.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Ohh.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10If I threw a party where all we did was play Monopoly, would you come?
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Could I be the little shoe?
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Of course.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17The lawyers have asked us to tone down the cover on Serbia.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19They're afraid it might invite charges of libel.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Yeah, um, I know a little bit of libel law.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23It's only relevant
0:07:23 > 0:07:25if the person in question has been out of the public eye.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Well, yeah, so there's Serbia, hidden,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29unknown to the world at large
0:07:29 > 0:07:32until it appeared on the cover of the 'New Republic'
0:07:32 > 0:07:34with our weekly circulation of 80,000.
0:07:34 > 0:07:3681,500.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- Almost done with it, Rob? - Er, two days, tops.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- Yeah, two days from Hanukkah. - Hey, it's basically finished.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- For the most part. - Next up.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Amy.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Er, just finished the piece on ethanol subsidies.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52There are 16,800 magazines in this country.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56But only one calls itself the in-flight magazine of Air Force One.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59And that's the thrill of working at the 'New Republic'.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01You're underpaid, the hours are brutal,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04but what you write gets read by people who matter -
0:08:04 > 0:08:07presidents, law-makers.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Your work can actually influence public policy.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14That's an amazing privilege and a huge responsibility.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17I'm sorry. They don't want to hear
0:08:17 > 0:08:20the whole journalistic responsibility speech.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21Do you?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25You just want to know how to get your name in print, right?
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Sounds familiar.
0:08:30 > 0:08:31OK.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Let me take you through the life of your typical piece
0:08:34 > 0:08:36so you can see what some of the hurdles are.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39We'll use one I wrote last year about a bunch of young Republicans
0:08:39 > 0:08:41at a conservatives convention.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Now, journalism is about pursuing the truth.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48And I would never encourage you to do anything sneaky or dishonest
0:08:48 > 0:08:50in pursuit of a story.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Such as assuming a phony identity.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I don't know, man. It seemed like a pretty good turnout to me.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04No, man. Conservatism's dead.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06- Dead? - We're lost.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Damn straight.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11IN CLASSROOM: On a story like that, your notes are crucial.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15You have to record everything you see and hear, every quote, every detail,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19all the way down to the mini-bottles in the fridge.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22We're like this guy who has to pee,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25lost in the desert, looking for a tree.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26It's true.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27Completely true.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34You guys know what you're shopping for, right?
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Totally.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Get us a real heifer. The fatter the better.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Bad acne would be a bonus.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44Let's do it!
0:09:44 > 0:09:47MEN YELL AND HOOT
0:09:53 > 0:09:56We'll thank you in the morning, I promise!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59MEN CONTINUE HOOTING AND YELLING
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- Hey, Steve. - Hey, Chuck.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19What are you working on?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Er, a piece Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote about the Falklands War.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26How about you?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Young Republicans at the CPAC Conference.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Pretty standard stuff.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Hotel ballrooms, boring speeches, chicken dinners.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Which is why everybody spends their time in their suites upstairs
0:10:45 > 0:10:47committing felonies.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Oh, yeah?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Yeah, I went to one.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53The ballroom was empty.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Every delegate under the age of 25
0:10:55 > 0:10:57was up on the 5th floor getting loaded.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Drugs, binge drinking, hookers.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Gets pretty ugly.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Sounds great, Steve.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05So does yours.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10OK, well, I gotta get back to work.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- Have a good lunch. - Thanks.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Hold it. Have to give myself a demerit for poor scene-setting.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Let me explain. A year ago, Chuck Lane and I were peers.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22He hadn't become editor yet.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Michael Kelly was editing the magazine then.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Sorry, Mrs Duke. I know how you feel about clarity.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36We've got to start calling some other places.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39I don't think I can eat this stuff every day.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Er, it was the Cannon building. You had it as Russell. I fixed it.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45Thank you.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- I really liked it, Ames. - But boring, right?
0:11:49 > 0:11:53No. Nah, I really, really liked it.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54CLEARS THROAT
0:11:54 > 0:11:55Yes, dear?
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Somebody for you on three. Someone from 'Harper's.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01When did you start talking to 'Harper's?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03I'm not. It's probably nothing.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Could you send it to my voicemail, please?
0:12:05 > 0:12:06Very good.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08And by the way, Glo, that lipstick is the bomb.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Oh, thanks, doll.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13What is it, Midnight Mist?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- I really gotta stop doing that. - What?
0:12:18 > 0:12:21All I do is give people more reasons to assume I'm gay.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I mean, lately, it's everyone.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Like the other night, I went out to dinner with this guy from the 'Post'.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Who?
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I can't tell you. He made me promise.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Anyway, we were walking around afterwards
0:12:31 > 0:12:33talking about Medicare, for God's sakes,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and then the next thing I know we're standing on the corner
0:12:36 > 0:12:38of 18th and T.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43And he somehow managed to slip his tongue down my throat.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48And I'm like, "Wait a minute. How did this happen?"
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I don't understand.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Yeah, neither did I.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55Hey.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Michael.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57- You have a minute? - Of course.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59We have a problem with the 'Spring Breakdown' piece.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Just got a letter from David Keene. He ran the CPAC Conference.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04- He's made some... - Are you mad at me?
0:13:06 > 0:13:08He's made some pretty serious charges.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09We need to answer them.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12OK, um, my notes are at home. I can be back in 20 minutes.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Is that too long?
0:13:14 > 0:13:15Do your notes have anything about the minibars?
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Because that would help. - I think so.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21No, I'm sure. Why?
0:13:21 > 0:13:23He claims the Omni Shoreham doesn't even have minibars.
0:13:23 > 0:13:24He mentioned it specifically.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28I saw them. There were little bottles of booze all over the room.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32OK, um, I'll get Aari and Rob into it
0:13:32 > 0:13:34and start the fact check again.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- I'll get my notes. - Thank you.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I'm sorry. We'll have to finish this later.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41No, no, I understand.
0:13:41 > 0:13:42Thank you.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57What's wrong?
0:14:00 > 0:14:01Just tell me.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Keene was right, Michael.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11I messed up.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12I made a huge error.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I don't know what to say. If you want me to resign, I will.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27I want you to tell me what happened.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34They don't have minibars at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I guess I just saw all those little bottles and I made an assumption,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42which I know we're never supposed to do.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45I'm really sorry.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Those guys were drinking out of a rented refrigerator.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54A mini-fridge.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57- That's it? - Yeah.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- The rest of the piece is solid? - Well, yeah, of course.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Go home, Steve. Your resignation will not be required.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Really? You're not mad?
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Of course not.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Er, do you want my notes?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Have a good night.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18Thanks, Michael.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23- Thanks for backing me. - It's what editors do.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28Goodnight.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45DIALS
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Hi. Front desk, please.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Hi, I need some information.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Um, do the suites at your hotels have minibars?
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Well, can a guest rent something like that,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04like a mini-refrigerator or something?
0:16:04 > 0:16:05They can?
0:16:05 > 0:16:07OK. Thank you very much.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13And she says, "I didn't invite Vernon Jordan that evening
0:16:13 > 0:16:16"because my guests of honour were girls from Smith College.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19"Some of them were virgins and I wanted to keep it that way."
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And you're gonna put that in the article, right?
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Gosh, Alec, I don't know.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I mean, 'George' is such a dignified publication.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29You wouldn't want to put in something that gossipy, would you?
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Absolutely not.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Of course we put it in.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Thank you, Stephen. You're going to make me look very, very smart.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Er, the Fritos are running dangerously low.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42I'll be right back.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46You can't hide in here all night, Ames.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Can I ask you something?
0:16:52 > 0:16:56What is this? I found it in the freezer.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58You said you hated how the Diet Coke at parties
0:16:58 > 0:17:00was always at room temperature.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02And how, if you wanted to drink it cold,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05you'd have to put it on ice, and then it would get too watery.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- Don't you remember? - Yeah, I do.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10But I said that a couple of years ago.
0:17:10 > 0:17:11Steve.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14I'm gonna call it a night, but thanks for having me.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Oh. Thanks for coming.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Alphabetised beer. That's perfect.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20Drive safe, Alec.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Who's he?
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Associate editor of 'George'.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27When did you start talking to 'George'?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29I'm really not.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31It's probably nothing.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34You know, if they stoop any lower,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36pretty soon you won't be able to tell the difference
0:17:36 > 0:17:37between 'Time' and 'People'.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40You say that as if there IS a difference.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Exactly.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Hey! Thank you, Steve.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50What?
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Are you mad at me?
0:17:54 > 0:17:57I told you, I do not respond to "Are you mad at me?"
0:17:57 > 0:17:58I'm not your kindergarten teacher.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01We've been over this a thousand times already.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03You can't go to law school.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You don't want to go to law school, remember?
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I know, I know. It's only nights.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09I wouldn't have to stop working or anything.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11I'm just going to put these down, I'll be right back.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13No! I want to talk about this.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19I told you, it's my parents, OK? They never shut up about it.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21If I don't go, they won't let me be a journalist anymore.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Let you? You're 24 years old, Stephen.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26You don't know how things go where I grew up, Caitlin, OK?
0:18:26 > 0:18:28There are rules there.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30If your son's not a doctor or a lawyer
0:18:30 > 0:18:32you keep your curtains closed.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33You're writing for the 'New-fucking-Republic'.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Isn't that good enough? - Not in Highland Park.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- I'm sorry... - Stop apologising for everything.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I was looking through your mail. You should be pissed at me.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- I'm not. - You're gonna throw this out, right?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52I can't. I'm sorry.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Every station on the radio is talking about it -
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield -
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and these are supposed to be news stations.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Um, so, on Tuesday, I started calling a few of them
0:19:07 > 0:19:08and I finally got through to one.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11A Bible talk station in Kentucky.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14And I managed to convince the screener
0:19:14 > 0:19:17that I was a behavioural psychologist
0:19:17 > 0:19:20who specialises in human on human biting.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22ALL LAUGH
0:19:22 > 0:19:24I told the guy I'd done all this extensive research
0:19:24 > 0:19:27on people who chomp flesh under extreme stress.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29ALL LAUGH
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- What did they say? - They put me on the air.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- I took calls for 45 minutes. - Oh, my God.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Where does he find these people?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41It is kind of stupid. I know it's silly.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42I'll probably just kill it.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52So you'll help me with it?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Why? Do you have finals this week or something?
0:19:54 > 0:19:55OK, moving right along.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Er, Chuck, what do you have for us?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Oh, it's just...
0:20:01 > 0:20:03It's a bit of a hard act to follow.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Very hard to follow.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11OK.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15I'm starting the piece on Haiti.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17And I'll be going to...
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Hey. Don't let me interrupt.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25- Hey, Marty. - Michael.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31I'm going down to Port-au-Prince for a few days.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Uh-huh.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35STEVE: Marty Peretz. Our boss.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37He's a little scary.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55How about the commas in dates, are we supposed to circle those too?
0:20:55 > 0:20:56Let's just get this done, OK?
0:21:02 > 0:21:03What the hell is this?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Marty told us to circle all the commas in the last issue
0:21:07 > 0:21:10so he could show us how we use them improperly.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11What?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13He said commas should always appear in pairs.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Apparently, the issue is rife with comma errors.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Rife? - That's what he said.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19I see.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24No, I'm not angry, Marty, I'm embarrassed for you.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27These people work gruelling hours for meagre pay.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28They deserve a thank you,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30not another one of your world-famous tantrums.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34OK, I'd resign before I'd let you bully them like that again,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and I will.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Do you understand that?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- OK. Thank you. - HANGS UP PHONE
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Er, the great comma debate is history,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53so we can all go back to work.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01There are good editors, there are bad editors.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03You'll have both.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07My hope for you, though, is that once, at least once,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09you get a truly great one.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14A great editor defends his writers against anyone.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18He stands up and fights for you.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Michael Kelly was that kind of editor.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22He had that kind of courage.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27And that's what hung him.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30PHONE RINGS
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- Hello. - Hey, Chuck. It's Marty Peretz.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- You got a minute? - Of course. How are you, Marty?
0:22:42 > 0:22:45I'm in a bit of an uncomfortable situation, Chuck,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47and I thought you might be able to help me out.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- Sure. - It's about Mike.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- Oh. - He and I...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Well, it hasn't been working out for some time now, as you know.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58The tone of the magazine - I think it's gotten too nasty.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It's strayed from the traditions that make it great
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and I... I'm going to be making a change.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06I see.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08I'd like you to step in for him, Chuck.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09I'd like you to become editor.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Editor?
0:23:12 > 0:23:13There's a catch, of course.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Mike doesn't know any of this yet
0:23:15 > 0:23:17and it's gonna be two or three days before I tell him,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19so it'll have to remain between us until then.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Would that be a problem for you?
0:23:21 > 0:23:23- Marty, Mike's a friend. - I appreciate that, Chuck.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26But I can't remove him until I know who's gonna be his replacement -
0:23:26 > 0:23:27for continuity's sake.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30So this is how it has to be.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32I'm gonna have to think about this.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34I'm gonna have to discuss it with Catarina.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35Oh, of course. Of course. Listen...
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Marty, have you thought about the impact this might have on the staff?
0:23:38 > 0:23:39They feel very...
0:23:41 > 0:23:43He's earned a lot of loyalty there.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44Mostly by fighting with me!
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Well, the point is I haven't earned that kind of loyalty.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- And if it looks like... - I'll be in New York tomorrow.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51We'll go over all this in detail.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52- Could you call me at the hotel? - Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56I really appreciate this, Chuck - your discretion.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59- 'Night. - 'Night, Marty.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07So I just got off the phone with Marty
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and I've been fired, effective immediately.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14I'm to be out of the building by 5pm.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Chuck Lane has been chosen to replace me.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Chuck is not an editor.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38He's barely even a writer.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41There's no way I'm going to be able to work for him.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42- STEVE:- We should have Seen this coming -
0:24:42 > 0:24:45the way he laughs whenever Marty tells a joke in the meetings.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49They're never funny, but there's Chuck, completely howling.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50He's so political.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52And stiff.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53- And humourless. - And pissy.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55I mean, how pissy does he get
0:24:55 > 0:24:57whenever you try to fact-check one of his pieces?
0:24:57 > 0:24:58It's like, "I'm sorry,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00"but we have an obligation to get our facts straight."
0:25:00 > 0:25:02OK, let's not overdo it.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04This is still a great magazine.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06It's still an important magazine,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08and Monday morning, he's gonna be running it.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09I'm gonna barf.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13All right, let me get out of here, OK?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Well, I just want to thank you all again, truly.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52Um... I have loved every second of this.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Well, good luck, Mike.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02You too, Chuck.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Hi.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Hi.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58SIGHS
0:27:20 > 0:27:21Hey.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Hi.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29So, er, sorry about what happened when he left.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I just didn't know what to do.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Thanks.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38If you need a hand with the boxes, I'll be in my office.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42So Chuck took over,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46and the job, for the first time ever, began to feel like a job.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48But I'm being unfair.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52The truth is I wrote 14 pieces while Chuck was editing the magazine
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and the last of them was the biggest story I ever wrote.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Is anyone interested in hackers?
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Uh, cos I met this kid named Ian Restil -
0:28:02 > 0:28:04biggest computer geek of all time.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08He hacked his way into the database of a company called Jukt Micronics
0:28:08 > 0:28:12and posted naked pictures of women and the salary of every Jukt employee
0:28:12 > 0:28:14on Jukt's website
0:28:14 > 0:28:17with a note saying, "The big bad bionic boy has been here, baby."
0:28:17 > 0:28:18ALL LAUGH
0:28:18 > 0:28:19Outstanding!
0:28:19 > 0:28:21The guys at Jukt decided
0:28:21 > 0:28:23it would be cheaper to hire him as a security consultant
0:28:23 > 0:28:25than to try to stop him,
0:28:25 > 0:28:26so they met with him last week
0:28:26 > 0:28:29at the hotel where the national hackers conference was taking place.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31It was the chairman from Jukt,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Restil, Restil's mother and Restil's agent.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36- No. - Yes, hackers have agents too.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39All right, I was at the table with these guys.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Restil's just laying out all of his demands.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45- I want a Miata. - "I want a trip to Disney World."
0:28:45 > 0:28:47I want 'X-Men' comic book No. 1.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49"I want a lifetime subscription to 'Playboy'..."
0:28:49 > 0:28:51And throw in 'Penthouse'.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53And they're complying with every single word.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Excuse me, sir. Pardon me for interrupting.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56We can arrange more money for you
0:28:56 > 0:28:58and you can buy the comic book yourself.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01And when you're of a more appropriate age,
0:29:01 > 0:29:05you can buy the car and pornographic magazines on your own.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Cool.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17After that, after they have the meeting,
0:29:17 > 0:29:19he goes back into the conference
0:29:19 > 0:29:21where all these hackers have gathered.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23And they're treating him like he's a rock star.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Then, Restil jumps up on a table and he's like...
0:29:36 > 0:29:37I want a Miata!
0:29:39 > 0:29:42He's gyrating his hips, like this - "I want a Miata!
0:29:42 > 0:29:43"I want my 'Playboys!
0:29:43 > 0:29:45"I want a trip to Disney World."
0:29:45 > 0:29:48- BOTH:- Show me the money!
0:29:48 > 0:29:50"Show me the money!"
0:29:56 > 0:29:59Turns out there are now 21 states considering
0:29:59 > 0:30:02versions of a law called the Uniform Computer Security Act,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04which would criminalise immunity deals
0:30:04 > 0:30:06between hackers and the companies they've torched.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Meanwhile, Restil's agent claims a client list of over 300,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15one of whom was once paid 1 million and a monster truck.
0:30:15 > 0:30:16ALL CHUCKLE IN DISBELIEF
0:30:16 > 0:30:17It's unbelievable.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24It's, er, really silly. I know, um...
0:30:26 > 0:30:29I'm not even sure if I'm going to finish it.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45- MUTTERS:- Shit.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58You rang?
0:30:58 > 0:30:59Yes, I rang.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Why didn't you get this?
0:31:13 > 0:31:18Yeah. Oh... That...
0:31:18 > 0:31:19I don't know.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51Hey...
0:31:52 > 0:31:53Hey.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Is it pronounced 'JEWkt' or 'JUHkt'?
0:31:57 > 0:32:00It's pronounced 'give me back my article'.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Hey.
0:32:07 > 0:32:08Adam!
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Can you give a man a minute?
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- SARCASTICALLY:- Oh, yeah. I'm sorry.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Uh, it's just that, er,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20this 'New Republic' piece is a fuckin' sieve.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24I started with a check on Jukt Micronics,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27which is supposed to be this major software company in California.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29I went through every search engine on the Web -
0:32:29 > 0:32:30no matches found.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32So I call 411, every area code in the State.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35There's no listing anywhere for a company called Jukt Micronics.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Tried the California Tax Franchise Board -
0:32:38 > 0:32:40there's no record of taxes ever having been paid
0:32:40 > 0:32:42by a company called Jukt Micronics.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43Tried the state comptroller's office -
0:32:43 > 0:32:46no licence has ever been applied for by a company using that name.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Then I called all the hackers I know,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51asking if any had heard of a national assembly of hackers,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54or of a hacker by the name of Big Bad Bionic Boy.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Nothing. I even tried Ian Restil himself.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59There's no listing for the kid in DC, Virginia, Maryland.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03There's no record of him ever having attended a public school before.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04- More? - Please.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Uh...this guy Joe Hiert was described in the Glass piece
0:33:07 > 0:33:08as being this former basketball agent,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11yet no-one by that name has ever been registered with the NBA,
0:33:11 > 0:33:13and none of my hackers knew of him.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16I even checked the names of every government...
0:33:17 > 0:33:18I was just getting some coffee.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23I even checked the names
0:33:23 > 0:33:25of every government employee quoted in the piece
0:33:25 > 0:33:27against a book listing the names of every government employee
0:33:27 > 0:33:29in the entire United States.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31None of the Glass sources were listed.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Wait...there is one thing in the story that checks out.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36What's that?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39There does appear to be a state in the Union named Nevada.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45David! For Christ's sakes.
0:33:45 > 0:33:46God, I'm sorry, Stephen.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48I just wanted to see if you'd read it yet
0:33:48 > 0:33:50and it was sitting right here, you know?
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Don't hate me, OK?
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Stephen, you shredded it.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00I'm trying to spare you a spanking, David.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02You've got blind quotes all over the place,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04your facts are shaky...
0:34:04 > 0:34:08I mean, the line about the turnover at DOT was low by 4.5%.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- I checked. - Of course you did.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Rob and Aaron would kill you over that kind of stuff.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16This is the 'New Republic', remember?
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Nothing slides here.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20If you don't have it cold, you don't turn it in. Ever.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24Look - bring me your notes later and we'll go through it together.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26There's a lot about it that I liked.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28Really?
0:34:28 > 0:34:29Really.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Now get back to work, OK? That mail room floor needs scrubbing.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35OK. Thanks, Stephen.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- RECORDED VOICE:- You have one unheard message.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48First message.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Hi, Stephen. This is Adam Penenberg from 'Forbes Digital Tool'.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53I just got done reading your hacker article,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56and, first of all, congratulations.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58Everybody here just loved it.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Uh...but we wanted to do a companion piece to it,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03sort of a 'Day Two' story,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06and I'm having some trouble tracking down Ian Restil.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09Uh...do you think I could get a phone number on him from you?
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Look, I think it's good that you tried this.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It's good to stretch.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I just...
0:35:18 > 0:35:20I don't think you're writing to your strength here.
0:35:20 > 0:35:21- OK. Can I...? - I mean...
0:35:27 > 0:35:29I'm wondering why you'd wanna stray
0:35:29 > 0:35:31from the sort of things you do so well.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Um...
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Have you noticed the way Steve's phone has been ringing lately?
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Did you see all those editors at the correspondents' dinner?
0:35:44 > 0:35:46The way they were circling him?
0:35:46 > 0:35:47Is that what you want, Amy?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50To get a bunch of smoke blown up your ass by a pack of editors?
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Yes. Yes, it is.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01Caitlin, he's going to double his salary, freelancing like that.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04These guys don't want policy pieces anymore,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08they want colour, they want nuance, humour...
0:36:08 > 0:36:10But, Amy...
0:36:10 > 0:36:11..you don't write funny.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18It's a little funny...
0:36:20 > 0:36:21..isn't it?
0:36:22 > 0:36:24I was just looking for Steve.
0:36:24 > 0:36:25He's in his office.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- You got a minute, Steve? - Yeah.
0:36:36 > 0:36:37Do you have phone numbers for all your sources
0:36:37 > 0:36:39on the 'Hack Heaven' piece?
0:36:39 > 0:36:41- Mm-hm, but they're at home. - Can I get 'em?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Of course. Um...did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?
0:36:44 > 0:36:46No. I just need the phone numbers.
0:36:49 > 0:36:50OK.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56OK...OK, I'm trying to keep cool about all this, but...
0:36:56 > 0:36:57..you know the Uniform Computer Security Act?
0:36:57 > 0:36:59In the Glass piece?
0:36:59 > 0:37:02It was supposed to be under debate in 21 state legislatures.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05I just checked all 50. No such act.
0:37:05 > 0:37:06Beautiful.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09And, er, Julie Farthwork from the Computer Security Center?
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Not too sure she exists either.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Same with Jim Ghort
0:37:14 > 0:37:16of the Center for Interstate Online Investigations.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20And I've got nothing on a national assembly of hackers or Frank Juliet.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23- Man. - Do you know why this is so great?
0:37:23 > 0:37:25I mean, do you see the irony here?
0:37:25 > 0:37:27The 'New Republic' - snobbiest rag in the business,
0:37:27 > 0:37:28the in-flight magazine of 'Air Force One',
0:37:28 > 0:37:30and their star goes out
0:37:30 > 0:37:32and gets completely snowed by a bunch of hackers!
0:37:32 > 0:37:35I mean, God couldn't have written this any better.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44- Adam? - Yeah?
0:37:47 > 0:37:48Long as I'm grinding away on this thing,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50any chance you'd share your byline with me?
0:37:55 > 0:37:56Forget it.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01We are in uncharted territory here, Adam.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05An online magazine going after a giant?
0:38:05 > 0:38:08You should have somebody beside you to take some of the flak,
0:38:08 > 0:38:09in case this thing blows up.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Gosh.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14- That's touching. - You're completely swamped!
0:38:14 > 0:38:16I know you're behind on the Kim Palese piece, and it's due Friday.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18I'll get to it.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Look, everything that I'm working on is so...
0:38:20 > 0:38:22..dull!
0:38:22 > 0:38:24And this is spectacular!
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Andy...no.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Look, it's not like you found the story yourself!
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Kambiz just handed it to you.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33If I hadn't been at the dentist, it might be me about to get famous,
0:38:33 > 0:38:35so why don't you just share the wealth, OK?
0:38:35 > 0:38:36Shit!
0:38:40 > 0:38:43That came out a lot uglier than I meant it.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44Sorry.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52- Hey. - Hey.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Well, Ian Restil emailed me right back.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57It might be a little tough to put you in touch with him directly, though.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Or at least until next week.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01This is his email.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05"Your story screwed up my deal. I don't to talk to...to you..."
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- BOTH: - I don't wanna talk to you. - Yeah. Uh...
0:39:08 > 0:39:10"I'm on vacation with my parents, so leave me alone."
0:39:12 > 0:39:15What kind of parent goes on vacation with their kid in early May?
0:39:15 > 0:39:18That's a good question.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20I guess you have to know his mom.
0:39:20 > 0:39:21She's a little quirky.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26Uh...that's his email address, if you want to write him yourself.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31These are all my notes. Um...
0:39:31 > 0:39:33That's the number for the national assembly of hackers.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37Don't be thrown if all you hear is, like, a dark, deep, heavy breathing.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40It's, I don't know, their outgoing voicemail message.
0:39:40 > 0:39:41Ah...don't ask me why.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45Um, and then that's the number for Jukt Micronics.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47The chairman's name is George Sims.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Uh...I can't figure out why this Penenberg guy
0:39:49 > 0:39:51would have such a hard time finding it.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52You know. Whatever.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Uh, that's the URL to their website,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57and then I can't seem to find Joe Hiert's number.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59I was looking all over at home and...
0:39:59 > 0:40:00..it's somewhere there, I know it is,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03so I'll just get that to you tomorrow, if that's OK?
0:40:03 > 0:40:04- Sure. - Yeah.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06He's Restil's agent.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Should I, er... I'll give you some privacy.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Uh, no, have a seat. 6-5-0...is that Palo Alto?
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Uh, no. Silicone Valley.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16You'll probably get a voicemail. I usually do.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- VOICEMAIL MESSAGE:- You've reached the offices of Jukt Micronics.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Please leave a message.
0:40:21 > 0:40:22Hello, it's Charles Lane.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24I'm calling from the 'New Republic' magazine in Washington, DC.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I'd like to speak to George Sims, if I could.
0:40:27 > 0:40:28They already have our number.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31I guess you already have our number. Thank you.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36I'm sorry, we've just, like, spoken a million times now.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38That's actually his voice on the answering machine.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Sims is so hands-on
0:40:40 > 0:40:42that he won't even let his secretary do an outgoing message.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46Who's next?
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Uh... Penenberg.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Oh.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52- PHONE RINGS - This is Adam.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- Hi. It's Chuck Lane. - Hi, Chuck.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57I've got a phone number for you.
0:40:57 > 0:40:58A phone number for what?
0:40:58 > 0:41:01For George Sims at Jukt Micronics. You got a pen?
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Yeah, sure.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09OK, thanks.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14Uh, it's a phone number for Jukt Micronics.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21DIALS TELEPHONE
0:41:23 > 0:41:26PHONE RINGS
0:41:26 > 0:41:28- VOICEMAIL MESSAGE: - You've reached the offices of Jukt Micronics.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Please leave a message.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42Do me a favour.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47Call this number the same time I do, OK?
0:41:50 > 0:41:52- Ready? - Yep.
0:41:52 > 0:41:53Go.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57PHONE RINGS
0:41:57 > 0:41:59- VOICEMAIL MESSAGE: - You've reached the offices of Jukt Micronics.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Please leave a message.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- What did you get? - It's voicemail.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05I get a busy signal. Hang up.
0:42:07 > 0:42:08Try again, OK?
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- Redial. - REDIAL TONES BLEEP
0:42:11 > 0:42:14- BUSY SIGNAL - Busy signal.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17I got a voicemail. Hang up.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23A major software company with one phone line?
0:42:25 > 0:42:28BABY WHIMPERS
0:42:28 > 0:42:29How you doing?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Good. - He's up to 103.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Oh, shit.
0:42:36 > 0:42:37Come here, buddy.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42- Should I give him a bath? - Oh, that would be great.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Yeah. PHONE RINGS
0:42:44 > 0:42:46How you doing?
0:42:48 > 0:42:50- Hello? - Hello, this is George Sims.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52May I speak with Charles Lane?
0:42:52 > 0:42:53One moment, please.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Honey? It's George Sims.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01- Oh. - I'll take him.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Come on, sweetheart.
0:43:04 > 0:43:05Yes, yes, yes, yes.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07- You're such a good boy. - Hello?
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Yeah, this is George Sims of Jukt Micronics.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11May I speak with Charles Lane?
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Mr Sims, thank you for calling me back. Um...
0:43:14 > 0:43:16I don't have time for this, actually.
0:43:16 > 0:43:17We're trying to have an office party.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19Uh-huh.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Look, if you were calling for a comment on your story,
0:43:22 > 0:43:24I don't have one,
0:43:24 > 0:43:26other than to say I wish you'd never run the stupid thing.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28That stuff was supposed to be off the record,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31and your reporter knows it... that Glass guy.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33I'm just calling to verify some information.
0:43:33 > 0:43:34I'm not verifying anything!
0:43:34 > 0:43:37Bottom line is I'd like you guys to basically get lost.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39HANGS UP
0:43:39 > 0:43:40Hello?
0:43:43 > 0:43:45- Hey! - David.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48- Oh, I'm sorry, Steve. - Shit!
0:43:48 > 0:43:51I didn't mean to startle you, I just thought you'd like a cup of coffee.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- What are you doing here? - Working late. Working on my article.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56So I don't get shredded again.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58- Thank you. - You're welcome.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02I always forget to ask you - how are your studies coming?
0:44:02 > 0:44:05They're fine. I'm... I'm just buried.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07You're buried. Right.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09OK. I should probably let you get back to it.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11Is there anything else you need?
0:44:11 > 0:44:13No. Um...goodnight, David.
0:44:13 > 0:44:14'Night. Thanks, Steve.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22PHONE RINGS
0:44:22 > 0:44:25I got it.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29- Hello? - Chuck? It's Steve.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Hi, Steve.
0:44:31 > 0:44:33Hey. Sorry to be calling so late.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35I, um...
0:44:35 > 0:44:37..I was just wondering, did you get a call from the Jukt guy?
0:44:37 > 0:44:39- Uh, George Sims? - I did, yeah.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41Yeah... I was just sitting here
0:44:41 > 0:44:43and I realised that I'd given him your home number
0:44:43 > 0:44:47without asking you first, and, um, I wanted to apologise.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49That's fine.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51Sort of a prick, didn't you think?
0:44:51 > 0:44:53I couldn't really tell, because he hung up so fast.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56Are you at home, Steve?
0:44:56 > 0:44:59- No. Why? - I left a message on your machine.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01The Forbes guys wanna talk to us again.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04There's a conference call at 9am.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06Sure. Sounds like a party.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08Yep.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12- OK. 'Night, Chuck. - See you in the morning.
0:45:14 > 0:45:15PHONE BEEPS
0:45:15 > 0:45:17SIGHS
0:45:17 > 0:45:19That's weird.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00Morning.
0:46:00 > 0:46:01Hey.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05Want a laugh?
0:46:05 > 0:46:06Sure.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09- The website for Jukt Micronics. - Oh, good.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Yeah, you might not think so when you see what's on it.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17I don't think Mr Sims liked that piece that much.
0:46:24 > 0:46:28Yeah, and I found this too on my fridge for some reason.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Ian Restil's agent - Joe Hiert.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43I'd like to pause for a moment.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45You can't really go into the world of journalism
0:46:45 > 0:46:47without first understanding how a piece gets edited
0:46:47 > 0:46:49at a place like TNR.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51This is the system that Michael Kelly
0:46:51 > 0:46:53brought with him from the 'New Yorker' -
0:46:53 > 0:46:54a three-day torture test.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57If your article's good, the process will only make it better.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01If your article's shaky, you're in for a long week.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03A story comes in and it goes to a senior editor.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06He or she edits it on computer
0:47:06 > 0:47:08then calls in the writer, who makes revisions.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10Then the piece goes to a second editor
0:47:10 > 0:47:11and the writer revises it again.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14Then it goes through a fact check, where every fact in the piece -
0:47:14 > 0:47:17every date, every title, every place or assertion -
0:47:17 > 0:47:19is checked and verified.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22Then the piece goes to a copy editor where it is scrutinised once again.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25Then it goes to lawyers, who apply their own burdens of proof.
0:47:25 > 0:47:27Marty looks at it too.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29He's very concerned with any kind of comment the magazine is making.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32Then production takes it and lays it out in column inches and type.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35Then it goes back on paper, then back to the writer,
0:47:35 > 0:47:36back to the copy editor,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38back to editor number one and editor number two,
0:47:38 > 0:47:40back to the fact checker, back to the writer
0:47:40 > 0:47:42and back to production again.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45Throughout, those lawyers are reading and rereading,
0:47:45 > 0:47:47looking for red flags - anything that feels uncorroborated.
0:47:47 > 0:47:52Once they're satisfied, the pages are reprinted and it all happens again.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56Every editor, the fact checkers - they all go through it one last time.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Now, most of you will start out as interns somewhere
0:48:01 > 0:48:03and interns do a lot of fact checking.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05So pay close attention.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08There is a hole in the fact-checking system.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10A big one.
0:48:12 > 0:48:13The facts in most pieces
0:48:13 > 0:48:16can be checked against some type of source material.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18If an article's on, say, ethanol subsidies,
0:48:18 > 0:48:21you could check for discrepancies against the Congressional Record,
0:48:21 > 0:48:25trade publications, LexisNexis, footage from C-SPAN.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28But on other pieces...
0:48:29 > 0:48:32..the only source material available
0:48:32 > 0:48:34are the notes provided by the reporter himself.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38Steve.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41This doesn't look like a real business card to me.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45Yeah, I know. That's the kind of clown this guy is.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47He won't even pay to have real cards made.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50All right.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54- My office at 9:00, OK? - Yeah.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58PHONE RINGS
0:48:58 > 0:49:00Good morning.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03A few other people we can't seem to locate -
0:49:03 > 0:49:09Julie Farthwork, Frank Juliet and Ian Restil's agent, Joe Hiert.
0:49:09 > 0:49:12We called the numbers you gave us, got voicemails for all three,
0:49:12 > 0:49:16and the emails were sent back - no address or account closed.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19Really? Cos I've emailed them about a million times each.
0:49:19 > 0:49:20Hiert's online all day long.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22Did you ever call these people and get them directly?
0:49:22 > 0:49:26No, I always left messages and spoke to them when they called me back.
0:49:26 > 0:49:30And the references in the article to Nevada law-enforcement officials -
0:49:30 > 0:49:32was Jim Ghort the only one you spoke to?
0:49:32 > 0:49:34- Yes. - Do you have a phone number for him?
0:49:34 > 0:49:35Yeah, definitely.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38Wait, what was your basis for writing
0:49:38 > 0:49:40that Jukt was a big-time software company?
0:49:40 > 0:49:43I didn't. That was added by the copy desk.
0:49:43 > 0:49:44And was the hackers conference
0:49:44 > 0:49:46where you first met the Jukt executives?
0:49:46 > 0:49:48No, that part of the article is misleading.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50I...I was never in the Restils' home at all.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52You weren't in Restil's home with the Jukt executive?
0:49:52 > 0:49:54No, I didn't mean to imply that I had been.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04Sorry about that. Did the fax come through OK?
0:50:04 > 0:50:05Yes, it did.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09I think the address must've gotten garbled. We can't find the site.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11- OK, you want to read it back to me? - Sure.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15You gave us members.aol.juktn.html.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18- Wait, was that an 'M'? - I'm sorry?
0:50:18 > 0:50:20After Jukt, was that an 'M', as in Micronics?
0:50:20 > 0:50:23No, it was an 'N'... as in not working.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27Try 'M'.
0:50:27 > 0:50:28OK.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30Sorry about that. I was just rushing.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Of course.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35But I do find myself wondering, Stephen,
0:50:35 > 0:50:37why would a major software company
0:50:37 > 0:50:39put their website where only AOL members can access it
0:50:39 > 0:50:41as opposed to the entire Web?
0:50:41 > 0:50:42I have no idea.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45I don't have a website, so I don't really know that much about them.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48I would trust you guys to know better than me.
0:50:49 > 0:50:54OK, looks like...we have the Jukt website up now.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06I have to say, Stephen,
0:51:06 > 0:51:09this looks very suspicious to me.
0:51:09 > 0:51:10How so?
0:51:10 > 0:51:14Quite frankly, it doesn't look like a real website.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17It looks like a site that was created to fool someone.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20I don't know much about computers. Could somebody do that?
0:51:20 > 0:51:22- Of course. - Very easily.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24So easily, in fact, it's incredible.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26Hey, do you guys still want that number for Jim Ghort,
0:51:26 > 0:51:28cos I just found it in my notes.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30Yeah, sure.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32All right, 605-84...
0:51:32 > 0:51:34- Oh, wait. - Sorry?
0:51:34 > 0:51:38Uh...605 - that's not Nevada.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43Oh.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52I guess I got him mixed up with another source.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55Uh... FLICKS THROUGH PAGES
0:52:02 > 0:52:03Sorry about that one.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05Oh, you know what it was?
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Jim Ghort was actually the guy
0:52:07 > 0:52:08who told me about the law-enforcement officials.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12Um...I don't know what I was thinking.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14Um...I'm gonna have to get you...
0:52:14 > 0:52:16Steve.
0:52:16 > 0:52:17Give him the number.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26This guy's toast.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28All right, Stephen.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32In light of all this, how confident are you with this story of yours?
0:52:35 > 0:52:38- Are we off the record? - If you like.
0:52:38 > 0:52:39Well...
0:52:40 > 0:52:42..off the record...
0:52:44 > 0:52:46..some of the things that you've brought up...
0:52:47 > 0:52:50..the website, the idea that I was always
0:52:50 > 0:52:52speaking to these people through voicemail...
0:52:54 > 0:52:56..that is, that they were always calling me...
0:52:58 > 0:52:59..it didn't seem strange before,
0:52:59 > 0:53:01but clearly there are some problems with the story -
0:53:01 > 0:53:03you've pointed them out.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06One portion of it was structured in a way that...
0:53:09 > 0:53:13..I just, well... in light of all this...
0:53:18 > 0:53:22..I just...I'm increasingly beginning to believe that I've been duped.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32And so we hang up after he's basically
0:53:32 > 0:53:34let these guys interrogate me for an hour,
0:53:34 > 0:53:39and I go, "Chuck, what happened? I mean, why didn't you back me up?"
0:53:39 > 0:53:41He goes, "I'm sorry, Steve,
0:53:41 > 0:53:43"I gotta protect the magazine. I mean, I'm the editor."
0:53:43 > 0:53:45- Typical. - He's being such an asshole.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48So I'm dead, pretty much.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50PHONE RINGS
0:53:50 > 0:53:52Yes, this is Kambiz.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55Can we have a talk here? Just editor to editor?
0:53:57 > 0:53:59Sure. Go ahead.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03Completely off the record and really almost human being to human being?
0:54:03 > 0:54:04Of course.
0:54:04 > 0:54:08You guys have discovered something that a troubled kid has done,
0:54:08 > 0:54:11but I still don't know how you plan to play it.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13Chuck, we're not in the business of gotcha journalism here.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16I have no interest in embarrassing you or the 'New Republic'.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18I'm not worried about me or the magazine - that's fair game.
0:54:18 > 0:54:24But there's a kid here who basically just plainly screwed up, big time.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26His reporting was sloppy, we know that,
0:54:26 > 0:54:28but we're trying to handle it internally at this point,
0:54:28 > 0:54:30just as you would.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Listen, we're going to run something...
0:54:32 > 0:54:36..along the lines of a trick was pulled
0:54:36 > 0:54:38and some very clever hackers managed to create an illusion.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41I can't tell you what to print or not to print.
0:54:41 > 0:54:42You guys are journalists.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46But he could be very hurt by what you guys publish. His career.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48Chuck, I understand.
0:54:48 > 0:54:49I do.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52I would hope if I made the mistakes he made,
0:54:52 > 0:54:54people would be generous with me.
0:54:54 > 0:54:59But...this concerns the very field we cover.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01We have to run it.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04And when we do, we're gonna need a comment from you.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08So given everything that's happened,
0:55:08 > 0:55:11how strongly are you gonna stand behind this story?
0:55:15 > 0:55:18I'm looking into it.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20It's really not that big a deal.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23You got fooled by a source. It happens.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26We'll print a retraction and that will be that.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28Steve, it's not like it's gonna hurt your career.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Of course, if you weren't so distracted by your classes,
0:55:30 > 0:55:31maybe this never would have happened.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Yeah, I know. I've really gotta quit. You were right.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Can I speak to you for a minute, Steve?
0:55:41 > 0:55:44- What about? - Let's do it in private.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55We need to take a drive to Bethesda.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59- What for? - I want to meet Joe Hiert.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01I already told you. Nobody knows where he is.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Well, maybe if we go to the hotel
0:56:03 > 0:56:05where he met with the Restils and Sims,
0:56:05 > 0:56:08someone will remember him or have some clue of how to find him.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10Chuck, there were hundreds of people there, OK?
0:56:10 > 0:56:12These Forbes guys want to come down on you.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15They're highly suspicious about some of the material in that article.
0:56:15 > 0:56:16- You know that. - Yeah.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19But they're gonna go online with their piece tomorrow.
0:56:19 > 0:56:21- Oh. - OK?
0:56:21 > 0:56:23Yeah. Yeah.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26Now... Steve?
0:56:26 > 0:56:29- Steve. - Yeah.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33If we can find Hiert, then I can back 'em off for a day or two, OK?
0:56:33 > 0:56:35- OK, I'll get my notes. - OK.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47- Let's go. - All right.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59We were at this table.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01Restil sat here, his mother was on his left.
0:57:01 > 0:57:04Hiert... Sorry, his mother was on his right.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06Hiert sat there, but then Restil wanted him closer
0:57:06 > 0:57:08so he slid his chair over.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10Sims sat here, he had a lawyer next to him.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12I forget the guy's name. It's in my notes.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14Somebody was smoking at this table,
0:57:14 > 0:57:18so then Restil's mother insisted that we move to one farther away.
0:57:18 > 0:57:19Over there.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22The hacker conference was near here, right?
0:57:22 > 0:57:24SHOUTING
0:57:24 > 0:57:26Yeah, the building next door.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28I don't remember from the article.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30How many people did you say were at this thing?
0:57:30 > 0:57:33Uh...it looked like 100. Might have been 200. It's in my notes.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40200 people?
0:57:41 > 0:57:43Here?
0:57:43 > 0:57:47Yeah, they moved in and out. I mean, most of them were kids.
0:58:04 > 0:58:05That doesn't seem credible to me.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07All I know is I was here.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09All of us were right here.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?
0:58:11 > 0:58:12Yes, you can.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19We're looking into a conference
0:58:19 > 0:58:21that was held here a couple Sundays ago.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24Computer hackers. Do you remember anything like that?
0:58:24 > 0:58:26Are you sure you're in the right building, sir?
0:58:26 > 0:58:27- Yes, we're sure. - Why is that?
0:58:27 > 0:58:29The building's closed on Sunday.
0:58:34 > 0:58:35All I know is I was here.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38The conference was right here.
0:58:41 > 0:58:43That's why the Restils only stayed a few minutes, OK?
0:58:43 > 0:58:46Because it was such a dumb place to squeeze into.
0:58:46 > 0:58:49So they went to a restaurant for dinner
0:58:49 > 0:58:50with some of Ian's hacker friends.
0:58:52 > 0:58:54Thank you.
0:58:57 > 0:58:58- How many? - Huh?
0:59:00 > 0:59:02People at the dinner - how many?
0:59:02 > 0:59:06Um...about 10, I think. Including me.
0:59:06 > 0:59:08He didn't even put on a jacket.
0:59:08 > 0:59:10- Hiert was there too? - Yeah.
0:59:10 > 0:59:12Is it near here?
0:59:12 > 0:59:14- Yeah, it's across the street. - Good, let's cross the street.
0:59:16 > 0:59:18You know, I really don't like the way you're treating me, Chuck.
0:59:18 > 0:59:20It's like you won't even talk to me.
0:59:20 > 0:59:22- This is the place? - Yes.
0:59:22 > 0:59:24I didn't do anything wrong, OK?
0:59:24 > 0:59:28I didn't do anything wrong. You saw my notes. Everything was in there.
0:59:29 > 0:59:34I got tricked. I got fooled. I'm sorry. What are you being so mad for?
0:59:34 > 0:59:37- It was ten people? - Yes.
0:59:37 > 0:59:39- For dinner? - Yes.
0:59:39 > 0:59:42They're closed at 3:00 on Sundays.
0:59:42 > 0:59:44Yeah, I know.
0:59:44 > 0:59:46I know. They almost didn't let us in, OK?
0:59:46 > 0:59:48But it was a couple of minutes before 3:00
0:59:48 > 0:59:51and Ian looked like he was about ready to cry, and so they said OK.
0:59:51 > 0:59:53For dinner?
0:59:53 > 0:59:54Go in and ask them yourself, Chuck.
0:59:54 > 0:59:58OK, go in and see if they would serve a party that came in at 2:58
0:59:58 > 1:00:00and the answer would be yes, because that's when we got here.
1:00:00 > 1:00:02The Forbes guys are gonna have all this too
1:00:02 > 1:00:04and they're gonna dig through the records at that office building.
1:00:04 > 1:00:06OK, I'm sure they have surveillance cameras
1:00:06 > 1:00:07and they're gonna check them!
1:00:07 > 1:00:09I didn't do anything wrong, Chuck!
1:00:09 > 1:00:11I really wish you'd stop saying that!
1:00:16 > 1:00:18Steve...
1:00:21 > 1:00:23..come on, anyone can make a mistake.
1:00:23 > 1:00:25You know, this is not right, Chuck.
1:00:25 > 1:00:27OK, I feel really attacked.
1:00:27 > 1:00:30And you're my editor - you're supposed to support me
1:00:30 > 1:00:32and you're taking their word against mine?
1:00:34 > 1:00:35You're supposed to support me!
1:00:43 > 1:00:45- MAN ON RADIO:- Criticism of the President's programme has been...
1:00:45 > 1:00:47Leave it off.
1:00:54 > 1:00:56I'm sorry I yelled at you back there.
1:00:59 > 1:01:00Chuck?
1:01:10 > 1:01:11- Steve! - HORN BLARES
1:01:15 > 1:01:18- Pull the goddamn car over. - Yeah.
1:01:33 > 1:01:34There's been so much pressure.
1:01:36 > 1:01:38I... Chuck, I didn't mean to get anybody in trouble.
1:01:38 > 1:01:41OK. OK.
1:01:43 > 1:01:45You weren't at the conference.
1:01:47 > 1:01:48No.
1:01:50 > 1:01:54You know, I had a description of it from so many sources.
1:01:54 > 1:01:56I thought I had it solid.
1:01:56 > 1:02:00OK, and I wanted the piece to have an eyewitness feel to it, for colour,
1:02:00 > 1:02:03so I said I'd been there myself.
1:02:03 > 1:02:06And everything we just told the Forbes guys?
1:02:06 > 1:02:11Yeah, I am so sorry, Chuck. I just panicked.
1:02:15 > 1:02:18If you want me to say that I made it up, I will.
1:02:18 > 1:02:20If that'll help you, I'll say it.
1:02:22 > 1:02:25I just want you to tell me the truth, Steve.
1:02:25 > 1:02:29Can you do that?
1:02:29 > 1:02:31All I'm suggesting is that there might be
1:02:31 > 1:02:33facets of this that you're not considering.
1:02:33 > 1:02:36- Why are you defending him? - Nobody's defending him, Chuck.
1:02:36 > 1:02:39- Of course you're defending him. - He's a kid.
1:02:39 > 1:02:42He doctored his notes, Lew. Just consider that for a second.
1:02:42 > 1:02:43You know?
1:02:43 > 1:02:46He sat down and he handwrote a bunch of phoney quotes
1:02:46 > 1:02:49and he handed them in as source material for the fact check.
1:02:49 > 1:02:51Doesn't that offend you?
1:02:51 > 1:02:52Of course it does.
1:02:52 > 1:02:55Well, he also lied to his editor. That's supposed to offend you too.
1:02:55 > 1:02:58He's a confused, distraught kid, obviously, Chuck,
1:02:58 > 1:03:01so suspend him for a couple of months, but let's not bury him.
1:03:01 > 1:03:03Suspend him...
1:03:03 > 1:03:06There are... also political considerations
1:03:06 > 1:03:08to take into account here.
1:03:08 > 1:03:11The rest of the staff - the way they feel about him.
1:03:11 > 1:03:13I... I already know all that.
1:03:13 > 1:03:19What I'm saying is if you fire him, some of these people will leave.
1:03:19 > 1:03:22I don't know if we'd still have a magazine at the end of the day.
1:03:25 > 1:03:27- Hey, Caitlin. - Not now, David.
1:03:31 > 1:03:33How's he doing?
1:03:33 > 1:03:34Well, he's a wreck, of course.
1:03:34 > 1:03:37I want him in here, Caitlin.
1:03:37 > 1:03:40He's too scared to come in here. He thinks you want to destroy him.
1:03:40 > 1:03:44He knows what he did was horrible. He knows how badly he messed up.
1:03:44 > 1:03:47The part he's most upset about is lying to you, Chuck.
1:03:47 > 1:03:49Because he knows you took it as a sign of disrespect
1:03:49 > 1:03:51instead of as a panic move, which is what it was.
1:03:51 > 1:03:54Think about the workload he's been carrying.
1:03:54 > 1:03:55All this and classes.
1:03:55 > 1:03:58He hasn't slept more than two hours in nine months.
1:03:58 > 1:04:00So he got a little sloppy and he lied to cover his tracks.
1:04:00 > 1:04:02He's sick about it.
1:04:02 > 1:04:07Caitlin, the building he described - it doesn't even exist.
1:04:07 > 1:04:09He just made it up.
1:04:11 > 1:04:12So?
1:04:19 > 1:04:22Obviously he needs some help.
1:04:24 > 1:04:26- He needs help. - Just get him in here.
1:04:26 > 1:04:27You can't fire him.
1:04:29 > 1:04:30I don't think he'll survive.
1:04:30 > 1:04:32You don't understand. We're all he has.
1:04:34 > 1:04:36You can't fire him, Chuck.
1:04:38 > 1:04:40Thanks, Lew.
1:05:03 > 1:05:05Can you guys excuse us for a minute?
1:05:48 > 1:05:53So all the men water down stock, and you know, within...
1:05:53 > 1:05:55Steve!
1:06:01 > 1:06:03What are you doing here?
1:06:04 > 1:06:05I'm so dead.
1:06:05 > 1:06:08I mean, I'm over.
1:06:09 > 1:06:12Nobody's ever gonna hire me again, are they?
1:06:14 > 1:06:17I was so sloppy trusting my sources like that,
1:06:17 > 1:06:19and then lying about it.
1:06:19 > 1:06:21And to Chuck, of all people.
1:06:21 > 1:06:25I mean, the one guy who's hated me all along.
1:06:26 > 1:06:28I'm sure that none of this is personal.
1:06:28 > 1:06:30No?
1:06:30 > 1:06:33Chuck keeps a list...in his head.
1:06:33 > 1:06:36Everybody who's a Michael Kelly person.
1:06:36 > 1:06:42A couple of times I said some things I shouldn't have said about you.
1:06:42 > 1:06:43So now I'm on it.
1:06:43 > 1:06:47That's why he's so set on killing me now.
1:06:47 > 1:06:50Well, I have to tell you, Steve, he's within his rights.
1:06:50 > 1:06:53The things you did were fireable offences.
1:06:53 > 1:06:56I know. I...I'm not saying that they weren't.
1:06:58 > 1:07:01I did some terrible, terrible things.
1:07:04 > 1:07:08But believe me, Michael, Chuck doesn't care about any of it.
1:07:08 > 1:07:12It's my loyalty to you that he's punishing me for.
1:07:12 > 1:07:14I'm such an idiot.
1:07:15 > 1:07:17Now who's gonna hire me?
1:07:19 > 1:07:21Steve, I have to ask you something.
1:07:21 > 1:07:22Um...
1:07:25 > 1:07:27..did you ever cook a piece when I was your boss?
1:07:30 > 1:07:31Did you ever lie to me?
1:07:33 > 1:07:36The Young Conservatives piece - the mini-bottles.
1:07:37 > 1:07:39Was that true?
1:07:51 > 1:07:53PHONE RINGS
1:07:57 > 1:07:58Hello?
1:07:58 > 1:07:59Chuck, it's David Bach.
1:07:59 > 1:08:02Look, I'm really sorry to bother you at night but it seemed important.
1:08:02 > 1:08:04It's fine. Is there a problem?
1:08:04 > 1:08:07Well, I don't know.
1:08:07 > 1:08:08I just off the phone with Stephen.
1:08:08 > 1:08:10He sounds horrible.
1:08:10 > 1:08:12Did you suspend him, Chuck?
1:08:12 > 1:08:16David, what is the problem?
1:08:16 > 1:08:20He asked me if I would drive him out to Dulles later tonight.
1:08:20 > 1:08:22He said he wasn't sure he'd be safe driving by himself.
1:08:22 > 1:08:25I just... I thought I should draw your attention to that.
1:08:25 > 1:08:27Did he say where he was going?
1:08:27 > 1:08:30Yeah, he said he'd be staying with his family for a while.
1:08:30 > 1:08:31That can only be one of two places.
1:08:31 > 1:08:33His parents live in Highland Park, right?
1:08:33 > 1:08:37Yeah. Or his brother out in Palo Alto.
1:08:37 > 1:08:38I'm sorry?
1:08:38 > 1:08:40His brother. At Stanford.
1:08:41 > 1:08:42Chuck?
1:09:00 > 1:09:02You had your brother pose as George Sims.
1:09:02 > 1:09:03What?
1:09:03 > 1:09:06The phony recording from Jukt Micronics.
1:09:06 > 1:09:08It's a Palo Alto number.
1:09:08 > 1:09:10And your brother's a student at Stanford.
1:09:10 > 1:09:12- You had him pose as Sims. - No, Sims is a real guy.
1:09:12 > 1:09:14- Steve, Steve... - I've talked to him a million times.
1:09:14 > 1:09:16My brother and I aren't even speaking right now.
1:09:16 > 1:09:18Stop it. You faked Sims.
1:09:18 > 1:09:21You faked the website. You faked all those voicemails.
1:09:21 > 1:09:22You've got this totally backward.
1:09:22 > 1:09:24Restil, Hiert, Ghort - it's all crap.
1:09:24 > 1:09:27I can trace it if you make me. I'll find it all billed to you.
1:09:27 > 1:09:28I don't know what you're talking about, OK?
1:09:28 > 1:09:30- Those are all real people. - They are?
1:09:30 > 1:09:32Yeah.
1:09:33 > 1:09:35Look at me...
1:09:37 > 1:09:38..and say that again.
1:09:38 > 1:09:41Those are all real people.
1:09:47 > 1:09:48OK.
1:09:50 > 1:09:52I want you out of here.
1:09:52 > 1:09:53What?
1:09:53 > 1:09:57I want you out of here. And you can't take anything with you.
1:09:58 > 1:10:01There's some files, OK? I have to put them on a disk.
1:10:01 > 1:10:03- No. - No, they're mine. Personal stuff.
1:10:03 > 1:10:05I don't care.
1:10:08 > 1:10:10I know you don't.
1:10:10 > 1:10:12- Can I at least shut down my computer? - Don't touch it!
1:10:12 > 1:10:14I'm in the middle of a file, Chuck.
1:10:14 > 1:10:16- Back away from the desk. - Goddammit.
1:10:16 > 1:10:18Leave it, all right? Or I'll call security.
1:10:18 > 1:10:19- Jesus Christ. - OK?
1:10:24 > 1:10:26Can I take my Rolodex?
1:10:28 > 1:10:29Steve...
1:10:31 > 1:10:33Can I take my law books?
1:10:33 > 1:10:35Sure.
1:10:39 > 1:10:41But I'm going to need to have your security key.
1:10:44 > 1:10:46I'm not a criminal, Chuck.
1:10:49 > 1:10:51OK?
1:10:53 > 1:10:55I'm not a criminal.
1:10:55 > 1:10:56Oh, I heard you.
1:10:56 > 1:10:58Come on.
1:11:19 > 1:11:21Chuck?
1:11:32 > 1:11:33I said I was sorry.
1:11:33 > 1:11:35I know.
1:11:36 > 1:11:38But you have to go.
1:12:38 > 1:12:41STEPHEN: "Bond traders, as a rule, Do not have much time to loaf around.
1:12:41 > 1:12:44"And the Wall Street investment house RVL
1:12:44 > 1:12:46"takes its work ethic to a particularly..."
1:12:46 > 1:12:49"One trader is now testing a hand-held urinal
1:12:49 > 1:12:51"normally used by cops on stake-outs..."
1:12:53 > 1:12:56"A few days after Mike Tyson was disqualified
1:12:56 > 1:12:57"for biting Evander Holyfield,
1:12:57 > 1:13:00"I offered half a dozen cop shows my services as a biting expert.
1:13:00 > 1:13:02"I'm someone who knows a..."
1:13:02 > 1:13:04"The minibar is open
1:13:04 > 1:13:06"and empty little bottles of booze are scattered on the carpet."
1:13:07 > 1:13:09"It was the monthly gathering
1:13:09 > 1:13:11"of the commission to restore the presidency to greatness.
1:13:12 > 1:13:14"Patriotic prophets will have a hard time
1:13:14 > 1:13:16"holding back this merchandising bonanza as..."
1:13:16 > 1:13:19EXCERPTS FROM SEVERAL ARTICLES READ SIMULTANEOUSLY
1:13:31 > 1:13:34SILENCE
1:13:34 > 1:13:37STEPHEN: Thanks, Gerald. Sorry for the interruption.
1:13:37 > 1:13:40- No problem, Steve. - DOOR CLOSES
1:13:53 > 1:13:54Chuck?
1:13:57 > 1:14:03Um, the, um...the thing with George Sims...
1:14:04 > 1:14:06..that was...
1:14:06 > 1:14:08The voice that you heard on the telephone...
1:14:10 > 1:14:11..that was my brother.
1:14:11 > 1:14:12I'm sorry.
1:14:17 > 1:14:18There really is a George Sims.
1:14:18 > 1:14:21I've spoken to him a million times.
1:14:21 > 1:14:23He just stopped talking to me -
1:14:23 > 1:14:26you know, because of the article.
1:14:26 > 1:14:28He was so mad about it.
1:14:28 > 1:14:30I didn't know what to do.
1:14:30 > 1:14:33And the guys from Forbes were putting so much pressure on me, you know?
1:14:33 > 1:14:35And you were so mad.
1:14:35 > 1:14:38I just thought that if I could get everybody off my back,
1:14:38 > 1:14:39OK, for just a day...
1:14:39 > 1:14:43Just a day would give me enough time to go and find him.
1:14:43 > 1:14:44You can understand that, can't you?
1:14:46 > 1:14:48You're fired, Steve.
1:14:49 > 1:14:51What?
1:14:51 > 1:14:52You're fired.
1:14:52 > 1:14:54You've lost your job.
1:14:58 > 1:15:00But you can't. I...
1:15:25 > 1:15:30Chuck, will you please take me to the airport?
1:15:32 > 1:15:33Jesus.
1:15:33 > 1:15:34Please, OK?
1:15:36 > 1:15:39You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to.
1:15:39 > 1:15:40That's fine.
1:15:42 > 1:15:46But I can't be by myself right now, OK?
1:15:46 > 1:15:51I'm, er... I'm afraid of what I'm gonna do.
1:15:51 > 1:15:53You know?
1:15:53 > 1:15:55I can't get there by myself.
1:15:58 > 1:16:00I'm not going anywhere with you.
1:16:00 > 1:16:02Now, if you feel like you're a danger to yourself,
1:16:02 > 1:16:05you can sit down for a few minutes until you feel calm enough to go,
1:16:05 > 1:16:07but I am not going anywhere with you.
1:16:07 > 1:16:13But I'm afraid that I'm gonna do something, OK?
1:16:15 > 1:16:17Did... Did you hear what I said?
1:16:17 > 1:16:19Yeah.
1:16:21 > 1:16:22It's a hell of a story.
1:16:26 > 1:16:28Chuck, please?
1:16:29 > 1:16:31Stop pitching, Steve.
1:16:31 > 1:16:33It's over.
1:16:38 > 1:16:40OK.
1:17:05 > 1:17:07- MRS DUKE:- 'Spring Breakdown'.
1:17:07 > 1:17:10'The Jungle'. 'A Fine Mess'.
1:17:10 > 1:17:12'After the Fall'.
1:17:12 > 1:17:15'Peddling Poppy'.
1:17:15 > 1:17:19'Cheap Suits'. 'Kicked Out'.
1:17:19 > 1:17:22'No Free Launch'. 'Ratted Out'.
1:17:22 > 1:17:25'State of Nature'. 'Clutch Situation'.
1:17:25 > 1:17:27'All Wet'. 'Plotters'.
1:17:27 > 1:17:29'Praised be Greenspan'.
1:17:29 > 1:17:33'Monica Sells'. 'Hack Heaven'.
1:17:42 > 1:17:43What the hell did you do to Steve?
1:17:43 > 1:17:45He just called me from his car, hysterical.
1:17:45 > 1:17:47I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Ask Chuck."
1:17:47 > 1:17:48I fired him, OK!
1:17:54 > 1:17:56He's not suspended. Fired.
1:17:58 > 1:18:00This wasn't an isolated incident, Caitlin.
1:18:00 > 1:18:01He cooked a dozen of them, maybe more.
1:18:01 > 1:18:03We have to go through them, you and I -
1:18:03 > 1:18:05we have to go through all of them now.
1:18:05 > 1:18:08No. The only one was 'Hack Heaven'. He told me that himself.
1:18:08 > 1:18:11If he were a stranger to you, a guy you were doing a piece about,
1:18:11 > 1:18:13pretend that guy told you he'd only done it once.
1:18:13 > 1:18:14Would you take his word for it?
1:18:14 > 1:18:17Of course not. You'd dig and you'd bury him.
1:18:17 > 1:18:19And you'd be offended if anybody told you not to.
1:18:19 > 1:18:21Every one of those pieces was fact-checked.
1:18:21 > 1:18:23- They were all... - So was 'Hack Heaven'!
1:18:27 > 1:18:29You're a good reporter.
1:18:29 > 1:18:31You've always been such a smart, thorough reporter.
1:18:31 > 1:18:33Why can't you be one now?
1:18:33 > 1:18:36Because what you're telling me is impossible, Chuck.
1:18:36 > 1:18:38Go upstairs.
1:18:39 > 1:18:41- Read them again. - This is bullshit!
1:18:41 > 1:18:43Make sure you go all the way back
1:18:43 > 1:18:45because half of them ran when Mike was still here.
1:18:47 > 1:18:50That's what this is. Of course.
1:18:50 > 1:18:51I mean, what are you gonna do, Chuck?
1:18:51 > 1:18:54Pick us off one by one - everybody that was loyal to Mike -
1:18:54 > 1:18:56till you have a staff that belongs to you?
1:18:56 > 1:18:58Is that the kind of magazine you want to run?
1:18:58 > 1:19:00Caitlin, when this thing blows,
1:19:00 > 1:19:01there isn't going to be a magazine anymore.
1:19:01 > 1:19:03If you want to make this about Mike,
1:19:03 > 1:19:05make it about Mike - I don't give a shit.
1:19:05 > 1:19:07You can resent me, you can hate me, but come Monday morning,
1:19:07 > 1:19:10we're all going to have to answer for what we let happen here.
1:19:10 > 1:19:12We're all going to have an apology to make.
1:19:12 > 1:19:16Jesus Christ, don't you have any idea how much shit we're about to eat?
1:19:16 > 1:19:18Every competitor we ever took a shot at, they're gonna pounce.
1:19:18 > 1:19:21And they should. Because we blew it, Caitlin.
1:19:21 > 1:19:26He handed us fiction after fiction and we printed them all as fact...
1:19:28 > 1:19:31..just because we found him entertaining.
1:19:35 > 1:19:36It's indefensible.
1:19:37 > 1:19:39Don't you know that?
1:20:17 > 1:20:18- Is everyone in the conference room? MILLER:- Mm-hm.
1:20:22 > 1:20:24You know what could have prevented all this, don't you?
1:20:24 > 1:20:26No. What?
1:20:27 > 1:20:28Pictures.
1:20:30 > 1:20:32How could you make up characters
1:20:32 > 1:20:34if everyone you wrote about had to be photographed?
1:20:42 > 1:20:44You know, Stephen, if you wanted to,
1:20:44 > 1:20:47you could do these kids a giant favour.
1:20:47 > 1:20:49- Yeah? - Yeah.
1:20:53 > 1:20:55You could write something boring one of these days.
1:20:56 > 1:20:58Give them a little less to live up to.
1:21:00 > 1:21:02I suppose I could.
1:21:02 > 1:21:07I mean, we don't want a bunch of teenagers getting ulcers, do we?
1:21:09 > 1:21:10Good morning.
1:21:31 > 1:21:32That's funny...
1:21:37 > 1:21:42..because I thought I was going to have to explain all this to you.
1:21:46 > 1:21:49Well, what do you think of this guy?
1:22:03 > 1:22:05Thank you.
1:22:10 > 1:22:11Thank you.
1:22:20 > 1:22:22Thanks. Thank you.
1:22:29 > 1:22:32APPLAUSE FADES SLOWLY
1:22:46 > 1:22:48- CHUCK:- Steve?
1:22:48 > 1:22:50Stephen?
1:22:53 > 1:22:56We've read through all the pieces now.
1:22:56 > 1:22:58And the entire staff.
1:22:58 > 1:22:59And we've come up with a list of those
1:22:59 > 1:23:02whose facts and sources we couldn't verify independently.
1:23:02 > 1:23:06I know you can't admit guilt of any kind
1:23:06 > 1:23:09but I want you to confirm a few titles for me.
1:23:09 > 1:23:11We're not prepared to confirm or deny anything at this...
1:23:11 > 1:23:13What I'm going to do is this -
1:23:13 > 1:23:17I'm going to read to you a list of suspicious titles one by one.
1:23:18 > 1:23:21If you raise an objection to a particular title,
1:23:21 > 1:23:25we'll fact-check it again in the hope of removing it from the list.
1:23:25 > 1:23:27If you remain silent,
1:23:27 > 1:23:28we'll assume that piece is fabricated,
1:23:28 > 1:23:32either partially or entirely,
1:23:32 > 1:23:33and it'll stay on.
1:23:34 > 1:23:36Is that clear to everyone?
1:23:39 > 1:23:40OK.
1:23:42 > 1:23:43'Hazardous to Your Mental Health'.
1:23:48 > 1:23:51That means it stays on the list of suspicious pieces -
1:23:51 > 1:23:53fabricated pieces.
1:23:53 > 1:23:55- LAWYER:- We understand.
1:23:57 > 1:23:59MARKS PAPER
1:23:59 > 1:24:00'Holy Trinity'.
1:24:08 > 1:24:10'Probable Claus'.
1:24:17 > 1:24:18'Don't You DARE'
1:24:22 > 1:24:23'Spring Breakdown'.
1:24:26 > 1:24:28'State of Nature'.
1:24:33 > 1:24:35'Rock the Morons'.
1:24:37 > 1:24:39'After the Fall'.
1:24:39 > 1:24:41STEPHEN: You have to know Who you're writing for.
1:24:41 > 1:24:44And you have to know what you're good at.
1:24:44 > 1:24:45I record what people do.
1:24:45 > 1:24:48And I find out what moves them, what scares them.
1:24:48 > 1:24:50And I write that down.
1:24:50 > 1:24:52That way they're the ones telling the story.
1:24:52 > 1:24:54And you know what?
1:24:54 > 1:24:56Those kind of pieces can win Pulitzers too.
1:24:58 > 1:25:00Steve?
1:26:43 > 1:26:45E-mail us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk