Boyd Says Some at 'NY Times' Are Scared

By: Joe Strupp The New York Times newsroom remains "stunned" and "pained" by the recent revelations that former reporter Jayson Blair kept up a long running pattern of deceit, plagiarism, and other ethical miscues, according to Managing Editor Gerald Boyd, who said some fear the 27-year-old's actions might hurt the paper's ongoing training program for young reporters.

"There are people who are scared about what it might mean," Boyd told E&P Tuesday. "What it might mean for issues like diversity and promoting younger reporters and giving young reporters opportunities."

When asked if he is worried about how the scandal might affect his job or those of other high-ranking editors, Boyd declined to speculate. "I am not at that level of concern at this moment," he said. "I am trying to explain and address this as well as I can and I am trying to put out a newspaper."

Blair, 27, resigned from the paper May 1 after a five-year career that began in 1998 with a 10-week internship. On Sunday, the Times published an unprecedented four-page package explaining how Blair had deceived editors, made up facts, lied about being at news events, and even submitted false travel reimbursement requests. It also indicated that he had a high correction rate and that several editors had raised red flags about his abilities, only to have them ignored.

Some have speculated that Blair, who is black, might have been given second and third chances because of his minority status in order to help the Times improve its diversity. Boyd, also African-American, denied the allegation. "He was not pushed or promoted for diversity reasons," Boyd said. "The record supports that fact." The Times' reporter recruitment program that Blair came through actually promoted more white reporters to staff positions than minorities, Boyd contends. Of the 37 participants who have become full-time staffers since the program began in 1995, he said only 16 were minority. Of seven who were not promoted, three were black.

Since Sunday's package ran, Boyd said the newsroom has been tense, but able to function. "Emotions run the gamut," he said. "There are people who are angry, people who are very sad, and people who want to understand." He also said outside reaction has ranged from bewilderment to support to "questions about how it could happen."

He said the effects will linger for some time, but not permanently.

"We are dealing with a troubled young man and that is not something we see ordinarily at The Times or in journalism," Boyd said. "It is a tragedy on a lot of levels. I think it is going to take some time for us to get over it. But the credibility of The New York Times is larger than Jayson."