Showtime to Profile Plagiarist Journalist

By
published

Showtime will produce an original film based on the exploits of former New York Times
journalist Jayson Blair.

Deemed a "dark comedy," The Jayson Blair Project
will examine the rise and abrupt fall of Blair, who fabricated numerous stories at the Times
before being fired in May. Showtime officials would not project a launch date for the movie, but sources said it could premiere sometime in late 2004 or 2005.

Jon Mass (Showtime’s The Last Debate
) will pen the movie, which is based in part on articles by former Newsweek
media reporter Seth Mnookin, who recently left the magazine to write a book about the Times
.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.