The Allure and Peril of Access Journalism

The relationship between journalists and their subjects has long been a complex one, fraught with ethical considerations. Janet Malcolm, in her seminal work The Journalist and the Murderer, dissected the inherent power dynamics at play, highlighting how reporters often cultivate relationships with sources – even those accused of heinous crimes – to gain access and information. This process, Malcolm argued, inevitably involves a degree of manipulation and, ultimately, betrayal when the reporting is published.

Michael Wolff, known for his bestsellers like Fire and Fury, seems to operate within this gray area, but with a particularly troubling degree of entanglement. The recently surfaced emails, exchanged with Epstein between 2015 and 2016, demonstrate a willingness to go beyond simply cultivating a source. Wolff appears to have actively offered strategic advice to Epstein, even suggesting ways to damage Donald Trump’s reputation.

In a December 2015 email, Wolff wrote, “I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt.” Later, following the release of the Access Hollywood tape in October 2016, Wolff offered to provide Epstein with talking points that could garner sympathy and “finish” Trump. These exchanges, as Joanna Coles of The Daily Beast pointed out, suggest Wolff was “advising a convicted pedophile about what to do, and…colluding with him against a potential presidential candidate.”

Wolff’s defense, offered initially with hesitation and then with more forthrightness, is that such ingratiation is simply a necessary part of the reporting process. “You ingratiate yourself so that people—your subject—will talk to you,” he explained in an email. He claims the access gained through this approach justified the means, citing his reporting on Epstein in his book Too Famous as evidence. However, this justification raises a fundamental question: at what point does currying favor cross the line into unethical complicity?

A History of Controversy

Wolff’s methods have long been a source of contention within the journalistic community. He has a reputation for prioritizing access over rigorous fact-checking, often relying on unsubstantiated rumors and conflicting accounts. As the late David Carr of The New York Times observed, “One of the problems with Wolff’s omniscience is that while he may know all, he gets some of it wrong.” This tendency towards sloppiness and a willingness to publish unverified information have led to retractions, including a recent incident involving The Daily Beast and claims about Melania Trump. (Wolff subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the retraction misrepresented his statements.)

This pattern of questionable reporting casts a shadow over his interactions with Epstein. While Wolff argues he was simply trying to gain access, the emails suggest a more active role in shaping the narrative. Epstein, a notorious liar, was undoubtedly a manipulative figure, and Wolff’s eagerness to extract damaging information from him raises concerns about the reliability of his reporting.

The muted impact of Wolff’s released tapes of Epstein discussing Trump before the 2024 election may be a direct consequence of this damaged credibility. Trust in the press is already at a historic low, and instances like this further erode public confidence. Is it possible to justify compromising journalistic principles in the pursuit of a scoop, even if the information obtained is potentially valuable?

Furthermore, Wolff’s willingness to engage in what appears to be political maneuvering on behalf of Epstein raises questions about his objectivity. He has, at times, simultaneously attacked the mainstream media for bias while employing tactics that undermine journalistic integrity. This duality further complicates the assessment of his work.

The history of Michael Wolff’s access journalism reveals a pattern of prioritizing proximity to power over traditional journalistic rigor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Wolff and the Epstein Emails

• What is the core ethical concern raised by the Michael Wolff-Jeffrey Epstein emails?

  The primary concern is that Wolff appeared to offer public relations advice to a convicted sex offender, blurring the lines between objective reporting and active participation in shaping a narrative. This raises questions about journalistic independence and potential complicity.

• How does Michael Wolff defend his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein?

  Wolff argues that ingratiating himself with sources is a standard practice in journalism, necessary to gain access and information. He claims the access he gained through this approach justified his actions.

• Has Michael Wolff faced criticism for his reporting methods in the past?

  Yes, Wolff has been criticized for prioritizing access over fact-checking and for publishing unsubstantiated rumors. Several of his claims have been challenged and, in some cases, retracted by other news organizations.

• What impact did Wolff’s reporting on Epstein have?

  Despite releasing tapes of Epstein discussing Donald Trump, Wolff’s reporting had limited impact, potentially due to his damaged credibility and the broader skepticism surrounding his work.

• What does Janet Malcolm’s work, “The Journalist and the Murderer,” contribute to this discussion?

  Malcolm’s book explores the inherent ethical complexities of journalism, arguing that reporters inevitably betray their subjects when they publish their findings. This framework provides a lens through which to examine Wolff’s actions and the broader ethical challenges faced by journalists.

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Today’s News

1. President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s relationships with Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats and institutions, following the release of new Epstein-related documents on Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee.
2. Trump is expected to sign an order reducing tariffs on products, reportedly including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas, to help lower grocery costs, a White House official said.
3. More than 22 million people in Southern California are under flood watches as a storm threatens burn-scar areas with heavy rain, mudslides, and debris flows. Evacuation warnings are in place through this evening for multiple burn zones across Los Angeles County, officials said.

Dispatches

• Time-Travel Thursdays: “Amid an overload of information of uncertain value, The Atlantic’s founders wanted to create something that was solid and enduring,” Jake Lundberg writes, looking back to the magazine’s founding 168 years ago.
• The Books Briefing: Vladimir Nabokov’s leap away from Russian, his native language, was not an instantaneous, effortless transformation, Boris Kachka writes.