> If the source lied, tough. Investigative journalism is always a gamble.
That's not how it works. The onus is on the journalist and the editors to ensure that any source they're relying on is credible, in a position to know what they're claiming, and not playing you. That's why most will insist on dual-sourcing any particularly sensational claims unless they really trust the source.
In the past journalists have been fired for relying on non-credible sources, most recently James LaPorta, so this is no small thing.
If Sy Hersh is not verifying anything about the source he's relying on, he's just being a transcriber not a journalist.
That's not how it works. The onus is on the journalist and the editors to ensure that any source they're relying on is credible, in a position to know what they're claiming, and not playing you. That's why most will insist on dual-sourcing any particularly sensational claims unless they really trust the source.
In the past journalists have been fired for relying on non-credible sources, most recently James LaPorta, so this is no small thing.
If Sy Hersh is not verifying anything about the source he's relying on, he's just being a transcriber not a journalist.