In an all too familiar pattern of deception for major media in the U.S., Jayson Blair, a journalist, resigned from The New York Times in 2003 for serial abuse of journalistic standards which included fabrication, plagiarism, and falsification of his reporting locations.

His journalistic transgressions were first exposed when the San Antonio Express-News drew attention to Blair’s 26 April 2003 Times story which was very similar to a story written by an Express-News reporter on 18 April 2003.

The resulting investigation into Blair’s written work revealed, according to Factual America, “…numerous instances of plagiarism, where Blair had lifted passages verbatim from other newspapers and wire services. The investigation also revealed fabricated quotes, invented scenes, and false datelines. Blair claimed to be reporting from locations he had never visited.”

Blair later claimed mental illness and substance abuse were the root causes of his deceptions.

Source: Jason Blair, Factual America.  Graphic: Jayson Blair, Fox News.