Lieutenant William Calley, whose prison sentence was later commuted by President Nixon.
One advantage of a six-decade career is that it gives Hersh a sense of perspective. He knows investigative reporting is usually thankless and often fruitless. Yet it still speaks truth to power and remains a vital engine of social change. “The principle of journalism is incredible,” he says. “Just imagine how the world would have been if we didn’t have the journalism we’ve had, and still have today. I don’t like what’s going on in the U.S. I don’t like the kowtowing to Trump. But there’s still the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times is still a good newspaper. The LA Times used to be, but it’s now owned by a Trump supporter.” He is referring to Patrick Soon-Shiong. “But journalism matters,” he adds, regaining his composure. “It’s necessary.”
Cover-Up review – Laura Poitras’s Seymour Hersh documentary is a thrilling ode to journalism
In September, Hersh attended the premiere of Cover-Up at the Venice Film Festival. The audience response was so overwhelming, Poitras says, that it moved the newsman to tears. “He’s always been this lone-wolf troublemaker,” she explains. “So maybe he’s not used to being recognized and celebrated. I don’t think he was prepared for it. He was very emotional. He was crying.”
Hersh tells a different story. He claims he was shocked by the crowd’s reaction. The audience didn’t get the film’s humor, he adds, didn’t laugh at the right moments, and then applauded for an unseemly amount of time at the end. “I was embarrassed by that,” he says. “I know they like to measure the length of applause at these festivals, but come on, enough. I was trying to stop it.”
I like the image of Hersh standing in the aisle and signaling for people to quiet down. It feels perfectly on-brand for this most awkward of figures: a thorn in the side of every great institution—an unashamed party-pooper, even at his own celebration. Cover-Up is out now.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Seymour Hersh The Documentary
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Seymour Hersh and why is he famous
Seymour Sy Hersh is a Pulitzer Prizewinning investigative journalist He is famous for exposing major stories like the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War and reporting on abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq He is known for his deep confidential sources and hardhitting work
2 What is this documentary about
The documentary aimed to chronicle Hershs life and career focusing on his groundbreaking investigative work and his methods for uncovering hidden truths often against powerful institutions
3 So why did he walk away from it
Hersh walked away because he felt the filmmakers were creating a film that was more about him as a difficult personality rather than a serious examination of his work and journalistic process He disagreed with their focus and direction
4 What does Hes a difficult person but hes often correct mean in this context
This phrase captures a common perception of Hersh It means that while he can be combative stubborn and challenging to work with his reportingthough sometimes controversialhas repeatedly been proven accurate and of monumental importance The documentarys emphasis on the difficult part is what caused the rift
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 What were the specific points of conflict between Hersh and the filmmakers
While not all details are public reports suggest Hersh believed the documentary was becoming too focused on portraying him as a loner or a difficult character using stylistic choices that he felt trivialized his work He wanted a straightforward substantive look at investigative journalism
6 Isnt his difficult nature part of the story of his success
Yes many argue that his relentless skeptical and uncompromising nature is precisely what allows him to pursue stories others avoid The conflict lies in balancewhether the film was exploring that trait as a driver of his work or presenting it as the primary storyline
7 How does this reflect on the state of documentary filmmaking
It highlights a tension between creating a compelling characterdriven narrative for audiences and maintaining a subjects desired legacy It raises questions about who controls the narrative when telling a true story about a living person
