ABSOLUTELY FABULIST: Stephen Glass vs. Claas Relotius.

I don’t think their youth is a coincidence, either (and you can add Jayson Blair, a rising star for the NY Times who was fired for the same offenses at the ripe old age of 27, having started there at the age of 23). Years ago, writers of those ages would have been relegated to learning their craft by covering town council meetings and building dedications. But now they are pushed into the limelight, bask in it, and are willing to lie to get more of it.

As Obama’s would-be novelist turned would-be middle-east “guru” Ben Rhodes eventually admitted, “The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. That’s a sea change. They literally know nothing.” And what they don’t know, some are more than willing to fake.