The Journalist and the Murderer

by Janet Malcolm

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Historical Context

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The Reagan Revolution

The 1980s, an era etched in history as the Reagan epoch, was a time when conservative ideals took center stage. Ronald Reagan, the charismatic former governor of California, captured the presidency in 1980, ushering in a new wave of conservative thought. His legacy continued as his vice president, George Bush, followed him into office in 1988. Reagan's administration was marked by a fierce opposition to communism, adopting a staunchly assertive approach in international affairs. However, the decade was not without turmoil; scandals such as the Iran-Contra affair sent shockwaves through the nation. This controversy involved the clandestine sale of missiles to Iran by Reagan's officials, with the proceeds funneled to support the Nicaraguan Contras in their battle against a communist-backed government. Despite the uproar, many Americans admired Reagan, as his tenure coincided with an economic revival. The 1980s commenced amidst the gloomy specters of recession and stagflation, yet Reagan championed supply-side economics, advocating tax cuts for the affluent to spur investment, job creation, and consumer spending. Although the economy rebounded, critics pointed out that prosperity did not reach everyone, and the gap between the affluent and the impoverished widened during his reign.

Crime

In the early 1980s, crime rates across the United States saw a temporary decline, only to surge again by mid-decade. Public fascination shifted toward the sinister deeds of mass murderers and serial killers, fueled by a burgeoning interest in "true crime" narratives and amplified media coverage. The FBI responded by developing psychological profiling techniques to track down elusive criminals. Television programs like COPS, Unsolved Mysteries, and America’s Most Wanted—the latter hosted by a grieving father whose child was murdered—brought real-life crime stories into living rooms, imploring the public to assist in capturing the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, white-collar crime proliferated, with high-profile cases capturing national attention. Financiers Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken became infamous for their illicit activities, with Milken convicted for dealing in junk bonds and Boesky for engaging in insider trading.

The World of Words

In the literary realm of the 1980s, esteemed author Philip Roth lamented over the diminishing audience for serious literature, estimating a mere 120,000 dedicated readers. Publishers, driven by profit rather than prestige, shifted their focus towards mass-market success, frequently awarding substantial advances for potential bestsellers that often fell short in creativity. The bestseller list was a diverse array, featuring Stephen Hawking’s cosmic exploration A Brief History of Time, Oliver Sacks’ intriguing account in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, as well as business and cartoon books. Dominating the shelves was Stephen King, the maestro of horror fiction, whose works amassed a staggering fifty million copies in circulation by mid-decade. Despite the commercial success, the chasm between popular bestsellers and high-quality literature continued to yawn wide, with notable literary voices including Raymond Carver, Larry McMurtry, Alice Walker, and Toni Morrison.

The Media

As the 1980s progressed, the media landscape blossomed, though journalism itself, once characterized by thorough investigation, began to falter. The media pivoted towards sensationalism, delivering what it presumed the public craved: scandalous stories and extravagant events. The era witnessed a notable rise in tabloid journalism and an explosion of talk shows.

Conversely, the magazine industry experienced a vibrant surge, with a plethora of new titles emerging to cater to niche audiences. From tech enthusiasts to parents, sports aficionados to fitness fanatics, magazines sought to capture the interests of every demographic. Yet, many of these ventures were short-lived, vanishing from the shelves after a fleeting appearance.

Literary Style

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Point of View

Throughout her book, Malcolm adopts the first-person perspective, ensuring her presence is felt on every page....

(This entire section contains 560 words.)

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Yet, she intriguingly complicates this stance in the book's closing chapters. In the afterword, she reveals that the ''I'' of the journalist—and consequently her own—is "almost pure invention." She views this "I" as a detached narrator, aiming to be as unbiased as the more commonly utilized third-person voice in nonfiction. However, despite her assertions, separating the narrative "I" from Malcolm's personal "I" proves challenging. At one juncture, she even takes care to specify "(the actual) I." This "I" makes bold claims, such as the one that initiates her work, prompting the question: is this "I" a mere narrative device or an expression of Malcolm’s genuine thoughts? When Malcolm confesses to being consistently disquieted by the "unhealthiness of the journalist-subject relationship," it further blurs the lines between the two "I's."

The dominance of Malcolm’s voice as she crafts her argument raises additional ethical questions. Many critics lambasted Malcolm upon the initial publication of her article in the New Yorker, accusing her of omitting her own history of being sued for libel by a subject, just like McGinniss. These critiques insinuated that Malcolm was projecting her own remorse onto her work. In response, she penned an article included as the afterword, arguing against these claims. Yet, Malcolm does not shy away from the idea that a nonfiction author invests much of themselves into their "characters." By referring to real individuals as characters, Malcolm unveils her perspective that these figures serve a narrative purpose akin to fiction.

Essay

The Journalist and the Murderer presents itself as a comprehensive essay, woven from Malcolm's personal experiences, insights, and research. She also incorporates genuine events, interviews, and public records, crafting an authoritative voice in what is essentially a persuasive essay. Malcolm begins with a provocative proposition—that any journalist aware of their moral transgressions—then methodically argues this thesis to the reader. Her arsenal includes facts, interviews, and meticulous research, all underpinned by her understanding of human nature. Malcolm seeks to establish her credibility by candidly acknowledging her errors and quickly correcting them. She recounts her astonishment when her nuanced questioning elicited identical responses from MacDonald as did another reporter's more straightforward approach, transforming a self-important misstep into an insight: subjects merely crave someone to hear their story, their truth.

Quotations and Interviews

Malcolm employs a tapestry of techniques to provide testimony. She seamlessly integrates quotes from the McGinniss trial transcript, various correspondences, and nonfiction sources, including Fatal Vision. Here, she appears to use direct quotations, word-for-word. In her research for the book, Malcolm conducted numerous interviews with a wide array of individuals, including MacDonald, McGinniss, trial witnesses, fellow journalists, jurists, and MacDonald’s acquaintances. Malcolm reports on these exchanges, frequently quoting the dialogue verbatim. Yet, in her afterword, she highlights a common reader assumption: quotations in newspapers are taken as what was actually said, rather than possibly said. She concedes that "when a journalist undertakes to quote a subject he has interviewed on tape, he owes it to the subject, no less than to the reader, to translate his speech into prose." While she insists that journalists perform a "rewriting that, in life, our ear automatically and instantaneously performs," this admission invites scrutiny of the precise truthfulness of the interviews she documents.

Compare and Contrast

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1980s: In landmark cases throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. Supreme Court decrees that proving a defendant guilty of libel necessitates evidence of reckless disregard and intentional falsehood. Journalists must not only disseminate untruths but do so with a reckless, malicious disregard for verifying the accuracy of their information.

Today: A fresh proposal emerges, advocating for a revamped set of libel laws designed to ease the burden on plaintiffs in proving their claims. This initiative seeks to abolish hefty financial compensations.

1980s: As the 1980s dawn, there are 612,000 lawyers alongside 204,000 editors and reporters. By the decade's closing moments, these numbers swell to 741,000 legal professionals and 274,000 members of the editorial and reporting community.

Today: Fast forward to 1998, and the legal profession boasts 912,000 lawyers, while 253,000 editors and reporters populate the media landscape.

1970s: As the 1970s draw to a close, the grim tally of murders across the United States reaches approximately 20,000 annually.

1980s: By 1989, the murder rate in America climbs to about 21,500 cases per year.

Today: In 1998, the grim statistic decreases, with around 18,200 murders reported nationwide.

1980s: At the outset of the 1980s, U.S. district courts see the initiation of 168,800 cases, with a mere 6.5 percent advancing to trial. By the decade's end in 1990, the number of commenced civil cases rises to 217,900, with only 4.3 percent reaching the courtroom.

Today: In 1997, the U.S. district courts witness the commencement of 265,200 civil cases, yet only 3 percent culminate in a trial.

1980s: In 1980, a vibrant publishing industry churns out 1,716 magazines weekly, contributing to a total of 10,236 periodicals in circulation, including weeklies.

1990s: By 1998, the number of weekly magazines diminishes to 364, yet the total number of publications, including weeklies, burgeons to 12,036.

Bibliography and Further Reading

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Sources

Bruning, Fred, ‘‘Are Journalists Basically Liars?’’ in Maclean’s, Vol. 102, No. 17, April 24, 1989, p. 11.

Friendly, Fred, Review in New York Times Book Review, February 25, 1990, Section 7, p. 1.

Lukas, J. Anthony, ‘‘The Journalist : A Source’s Captive or Betrayer?’’ in Washington Monthly, Vol. 22, No. 44, May 1990, p. 44.

Seligman, Craig, ‘‘Brilliant Careers,’’ salon.com (February 29, 2000).

Stimpson, Catherine R., Review in Nation, Vol. 250, No. 25, June 25, 1990.

Further Reading

Lakoff, Robin Tolmach, and Mandy Aftel, ‘‘In the Malcolm Archives,’’ in Nation, December 16, 1996, p. 32. The authors discuss Malcolm’s body of work, finding common themes, issues, and approaches.

Shalit, Ruth, ‘‘Fatal Revision,’’ in New Republic, May 26, 1997, p. 18. This article provides more up-to-date information about the MacDonald murder case and enumerates suppressed evidence pointing to MacDonald’s possible innocence.

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