Ahem. Media Bloodhound is covering a fascinating breach of journalistic ethics. ABC news discovered they couldn't verify the credentials of their terrorism "analyst" Alexis Debat as having a degree from the Sorbonne, and it turned out he might have fabricated an interview with Barack Obama. Perhaps most serious are questions as to when ABC was using Debat as an information source and when he was a reporter paid by the network. It is clear that his producers loved some of the sensational stories he covered about "possible" post 9/11 terrorist plans.

It is also fact that Debat was on the payroll of ABC and a necon think tank at the same time.

[Debat was] quoted and used as a source for multiple post-9/11-related stories for the rest of 2001 and much of 2002, finally officially earns the title “ABC News consultant” in addition to “former French Defense Ministry official” in a story about how Zacharias Moussaoui, the infamous “20th hijacker” - according to “French intelligence authorities,” which in this case appears to be, well, Debat – was actually “part of a second wave of suicide hijackings planned for early 2002 in Europe and the United States.” Read more....

Is it any wonder that the blogs are taking over journalism? I can't imagine any blogger getting away with making up an interview with Barack Obama. Blog readers would catch that before you could say "the audacity of hope." Perhaps viewers who get their news primarily from television are more passive and therefore have lower standards? Naah.

Update: Media Bloodhound has posted updated information on this story here...