Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, never portrayed in film by Hollywood legends Robert Redford or Dustin Hoffman, has earned the right to be considered more important than his contemporaries Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. With a storied career spanning decades, Hersh has broken numerous high-profile stories, including the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal in Iraq.
The documentary portrait of Hersh highlights the crucial role his work played in shedding light on these atrocities, particularly through his photographs of Abu Ghraib, which sparked outrage globally. In an interview with the filmmakers Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, Hersh underscored the significance of images in exposing truth: "No pictures, no story." However, this maxim might not be entirely accurate for today's era of AI-generated content.
One thing is certain – Hersh's relentless pursuit of truth has earned him a reputation as a fearless journalist willing to take on powerful figures and institutions. His dogged reporting style, often described as old-school "shoe leather" journalism, involves building relationships with sources, conducting thorough investigations, and refusing to back down from challenging editors.
Through this documentary, Hersh's fierce independence is evident, as he speaks candidly about his missed opportunities, including the Watergate scandal and being duped by fake letters. He also expresses disdain for centrist journalists who prioritize press releases over investigative journalism. Despite facing challenges, particularly when working at The New York Times, Hersh remains committed to his craft and has transitioned to independent platforms like Substack.
In an era where truth-telling is increasingly dependent on digital media and AI-generated content, Hersh's legacy as a pioneering journalist offers valuable lessons in the importance of tenacity, creativity, and uncompromising commitment to reporting the unreported.
The documentary portrait of Hersh highlights the crucial role his work played in shedding light on these atrocities, particularly through his photographs of Abu Ghraib, which sparked outrage globally. In an interview with the filmmakers Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, Hersh underscored the significance of images in exposing truth: "No pictures, no story." However, this maxim might not be entirely accurate for today's era of AI-generated content.
One thing is certain – Hersh's relentless pursuit of truth has earned him a reputation as a fearless journalist willing to take on powerful figures and institutions. His dogged reporting style, often described as old-school "shoe leather" journalism, involves building relationships with sources, conducting thorough investigations, and refusing to back down from challenging editors.
Through this documentary, Hersh's fierce independence is evident, as he speaks candidly about his missed opportunities, including the Watergate scandal and being duped by fake letters. He also expresses disdain for centrist journalists who prioritize press releases over investigative journalism. Despite facing challenges, particularly when working at The New York Times, Hersh remains committed to his craft and has transitioned to independent platforms like Substack.
In an era where truth-telling is increasingly dependent on digital media and AI-generated content, Hersh's legacy as a pioneering journalist offers valuable lessons in the importance of tenacity, creativity, and uncompromising commitment to reporting the unreported.
! The guy's dedication to truth-telling is truly inspiring 
. I mean, can you imagine taking on powerful figures like he did? He's a real-life superhero 
. And yeah, I think he's definitely more important than Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein – don't @ me 
! The way Hersh talks about the power of images in journalism is so spot on 
. It's crazy to think that AI-generated content might change the game, but one thing's for sure: this journalist wouldn't back down 
. Love how he calls out centrist journalists who prioritize press releases over investigative journalism – tell 'em! 
. Anyway, Hersh's legacy is a huge reminder of what matters in reporting: tenacity, creativity, and being willing to take risks 
#SeymourHershDeservesRespect #JournalismMatters #TruthTellingIsPowerful
i cant belive they dont put robert redford or dusty hoffman on screen 4 Seymour Hersh! hes soooo important!! 
i love how he says "no pics no story" but i think that might not b true 2day w/ all the AI shyt 
anyway, hes just sooo fearless 4 a journalist n i admire his shoe leather journalism style 
he's all about buildin relationships & gettin the scoop 
I mean sure some people might say he's old-school or that his methods are outdated, but I think that's a good thing - in today's climate where everyone's trying to churn out clickbait content, Hersh is a breath of fresh air 
He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and take on the big boys, which is more than most journalists can say. And yeah, maybe he hasn't won all the awards or been in every big film, but who needs that when you're changing the game like Hersh has? 
! His work has always been so inspiring to me. I mean, can you imagine having the guts to take on powerful people and institutions like he did? It's like, totally refreshing to see a journalist who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty 
, and it's crazy to think he was one of the first people to expose that stuff 
. I love how he talks about images being key in telling stories – it's so true, especially with AI coming into play 
. And can we talk about his 'shoe leather' journalism style? That's dedication, man 
. The fact that he stuck to it even when faced challenges like the Watergate scandal and working at The New York Times shows me he's a real journalist, not just some hack journalist 
.
I mean we need more journalists like him who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and take on the powers that be. his shoe leather journalism style is so refreshing compared to all the clickbait nonsense online today 
, where he just goes out and talks to people, builds relationships, and gets the story no matter what. It's not about fancy tech or AI – it's about having guts and a commitment to telling the truth. And in today's media landscape, that's more important than ever.
I think Seymour Hersh is a total legend! His determination to uncover truth, even when it means going against the grain or facing backlash, is super inspiring. It's crazy how he's been doing this for decades and still manages to stay on top of his game 
. His legacy is definitely something we can all learn from, especially in this age of fake news and AI-generated content 
.