Seymour Hersh

Seymour Hersh is an American investigative journalist whose reporting exposed the My Lai massacre and abuses at Abu Ghraib, among other U.S. military and intelligence activities.

My Lai massacre: A 1968 killing of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers in Sơn Mỹ village. Hersh’s reporting brought the massacre to national attention in 1969.
Investigative journalism: Journalism that uncovers concealed wrongdoing or matters of public importance through sustained research. Hersh’s major stories exemplify its use of sources, documents, and persistent verification.
Chicago Tribune: An American newspaper founded in 1847 and based in Chicago. Hersh began his journalism career there after studying at the University of Chicago.
United States Army Criminal Investigation Command: The U.S. Army organization responsible for investigating serious crimes involving the Army. Army investigators examined the My Lai killings after Hersh’s reporting made them public.
Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse: The abuse and torture of detainees by U.S. personnel at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Hersh’s 2004 reporting traced the scandal beyond individual guards to military policy and oversight.
Confidential source: A person who provides information to a journalist without being publicly identified. Hersh has relied on sources who could describe classified operations and internal decision-making.
United States Army: The land warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces. Hersh served in the Army before becoming a reporter, an experience preceding his coverage of military conduct.
William Calley: A U.S. Army officer convicted for his role in the My Lai massacre. Hersh’s investigation helped bring public attention to the case that led to Calley’s prosecution.
Henry Kissinger: An American diplomat and political scientist who served as national security adviser and secretary of state. Hersh’s book on Kissinger examined the secretive exercise of power he reported on throughout his career.
The New York Times: An American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The newspaper published Hersh’s reporting on the My Lai massacre and U.S. intelligence activities.

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Watchdog journalismRelated: His reporting on My Lai demonstrated how journalism could uncover military misconduct.