Challenges Faced by Investigative Reporter Kurt Eichenwald

Seizures Hurt Memory, Ex-'Times' Reporter Says 🔗

Former New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald won acclaim with a series about online child pornography. But questions arose about Eichenwald's own actions, and his "faulty memory" defense. Now Eichenwald reveals to NPR that his epileptic seizures cause severe memory disruptions.

The text discusses the challenges faced by former 'New York Times' investigative reporter Kurt Eichenwald, who struggled with memory loss due to severe seizures caused by epilepsy. Eichenwald's involvement in aiding a victim of child pornography led to ethical and professional scrutiny, as he failed to disclose financial assistance to the individual. His reputation faced further damage due to critical coverage by freelance reporter Debbie Nathan, and Eichenwald eventually left his position at Portfolio magazine amidst ongoing fallout. Despite admitting mistakes, Eichenwald defended his actions as an attempt to rescue the victim from exploitation, while facing significant backlash and attacks on his reputation.

Former 'New York Times' investigative reporter Kurt Eichenwald faced challenges due to memory loss caused by severe seizures from epilepsy.
Eichenwald's involvement in aiding a victim of child pornography led to scrutiny over ethical and professional conduct, including failure to disclose financial assistance.
Freelance reporter Debbie Nathan's critical coverage further damaged Eichenwald's reputation, ultimately leading to his departure from Portfolio magazine.
Despite admitting mistakes, Eichenwald defended his actions as an attempt to rescue the victim from exploitation, facing significant backlash and attacks on his reputation.