Fear. This has been at the heart of our journalism for the past 25 years. Fear that, if the subject of an article is offended, future access will be lost. Fear that, without access, the job will be lost.
Comfort. This has also been at the heart of our journalism for the past 25 year. Comfort in coziness with power. Comfort in the lifestyle that journalism now can bring.
Is it any surprise, then, that the supposed "best" journalists in the country could, for two years, sit next to a fraud who actually believed that plagiarism is a good way of bringing unvarnished news to his readers? Could sit next to him--and not notice?
Sure, they noticed. And that's why, to them, this is no story. They are too scared to make it a story now because they were afraid to make it a story then. Then, they were scared of losing their precious seats at the table. Now, they are scared they will be exposed as frauds themselves--that they will be shown as little better than Gannon/Guckert.
Sure, they knew. And that's why, to them, this is no story. They've developed comfortable careers and comfortable status. Now, they are scared that, if this story has legs, their profession will be cut out from under them by those, like the Kossacks, who are proving that access is not important at all to successful journalism.
Who are proving that good journalism has no room for fear or complacency.