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Seymour Hersh

シーモア・ハーシュ

Seymour Hersh

Aliases: Sy Hersh
Pen Names: Sy Hersh（Informal/short form used in bylines and conversation）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1937-04-08 （Chicago, Illinois, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Chicago, Illinois (birth and youth) → Washington, D.C. (reporting, Pentagon beat) → New York (The New York Times, The New Yorker)

Career

Occupations
Investigative journalist, Writer
Active Years
1959-
Affiliations
Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), The New York Times, The New Yorker
Influenced By
I. F. Stone (inspirational investigative journalist)
Influenced
Contemporary investigative journalists influenced by his methods

Education

Hyde Park Academy High School
Period: 〜1954
Year of Graduation: 1954
Country: United States
High school diploma
University of Chicago
History
Degree: BA
Period: 1954–1958
Year of Graduation: 1958
Country: United States
Bachelor's degree in History
University of Chicago Law School
Period: 1959–1960 (在籍中退)
Country: United States
Expelled/left during first year

Awards

Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting
1970
Work: Reporting on the My Lai massacre
Organization: Columbia University (Pulitzer Prizes)
Result: 受賞
George Polk Award
1969
Work: Reporting on My Lai
Category: 特別賞
Organization: Long Island University (George Polk Awards)
Result: 受賞
George Polk Award
1973
Work: Reporting on Operation Menu
Category: 調査報道
Organization: Long Island University (George Polk Awards)
Result: 受賞
National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction
1983
Work: The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House
Organization: National Book Critics Circle
Result: 受賞
National Magazine Award (Public Interest)
2004
Work: Articles on Abu Ghraib and related reporting (The New Yorker)
Category: 公共の利益
Organization: American Society of Magazine Editors
Result: 受賞
Multiple journalism awards
2009
Work: Longstanding investigative reporting
Organization: Various (Polk, IRE, Hillman, etc.)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Chemical and Biological Warfare: America's Hidden Arsenal

1968 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

An investigative account exposing U.S. chemical and biological weapons programs and cooperation with universities and industry.

military secrecygovernment accountabilitytechnology and ethics

My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and Its Aftermath

1970 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

Detailed reporting on the My Lai massacre and its cover-up, bringing public attention to atrocities during the Vietnam War.

war crimescover-uprole of journalism

The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House

1983 Non-fiction / Investigative biography 698 pages

A lengthy investigative biography examining Henry Kissinger's public and private roles and his influence on Cold War diplomacy.

foreign policypersonalization of powergovernment transparency

Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib

2004 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

Investigative account linking post-9/11 U.S. intelligence and military policies with the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

torture and human rightsmilitary chain of commandintelligence operations

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden

2016 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

A compilation of investigative pieces presenting an alternative account challenging the official narrative of the bin Laden raid.

national securityintelligence warfaretruth and controversy

Reporter: A Memoir

2018 Memoir / Non-fiction

A memoir reflecting on his career, major scoops, and journalistic philosophy and methods.

journalistic ethicsreporting methodswatching power

Bibliography

  • Chemical and Biological Warfare: America's Hidden Arsenal (1968)
  • My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and Its Aftermath (1970)
  • Cover-Up: The Army's Secret Investigation of the Massacre at My Lai 4 (1972)
  • The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House (1983)
  • The Target Is Destroyed (1986)
  • The Samson Option (1991)
  • The Dark Side of Camelot (1997)
  • Against All Enemies (1998)
  • Chain of Command (2004)
  • The Killing of Osama Bin Laden (2016)
  • Reporter: A Memoir (2018)

Adaptations

  • PBS Frontline documentary 'Buying the Bomb' (narration/contribution, 1985)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
fact-driven, direct and prosecutorial proseinvestigative style that frequently uses anonymous insiders
Recurring Motifs
watching powerexposure of military and intelligence secretsgovernment cover-ups and accountability

Legacy

A leading investigative reporter whose exposés — notably on My Lai and Abu Ghraib — had major international impact. His heavy use of anonymous sources and controversial later reporting have also drawn criticism. He has won many major journalism awards and is regarded as an exemplar of investigative journalism.

Academic Societies

  • Investigative Reporters & Editors (influential organization)

Archives

  • Personal papers and records are held in various libraries/archives (publicly noted holdings exist)

In Popular Culture

  • Frequent subject in documentary films and journalism studies

Quotes

  • Many will claim that I have attempted to exploit some dumb, out of service, overly talkative G.I.s. But few men are exposed to charges of murder... Both the killer and the killed are victims in Vietnam.
    Source: My Lai 4 (author's note) (1970)
  • I can't fudge what I write. But I can certainly fudge what I say.
    Source: Interview with New York magazine (2005) (2005)

Trivia

  • Won the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for exposing the My Lai massacre.
  • Recipient of multiple George Polk Awards.
  • Later reporting on Syria and the Nord Stream sabotage sparked controversy.