Hari-kiri? Johann falls on his sword

Disgraced journalist Johann Hari has resigned from the Independent. Writing on his own blog, Hari explained: 

"I'd like to thank the Independent for the privilege of working for them over the past nine years, and for offering me my job back... But after nearly six months living in New York City, and plenty of time to reflect, I've decided to not take them up on their kind offer."

Hari's resignation follows Independent editor Chris Blackhurst's appearance in front of the Leveson Inquiry less than a fortnight ago, when it soon became clear Hari was still seen as damaged goods in the eyes of the media and newspaper readers.

In his post, Hari went on to allude to the continuing criticism of the Independent and its editor over their failure to sack him for a string of offences:

"I'm willing to take the flack [sic] for my errors myself: when you screw up, you should pay a price. But I'm not willing to see other people, who are [sic] played no part in those errors and are unimpeachably decent people, take the flack [sic] too. It's not fair on them. The Independent has been great to me, and we need its principles in the public arena without distractions."

"Secondly, while doing some journalistic retraining in the US, I've started working on a book on a subject I believe is important and requires urgent action..."

How convenient... but I might not pre-order it just yet.

For more on this story:
What do Johann Hari and Britney Spears have in common?
Johann Hari: Then and now...
Johann Hari hasn't returned £2000 Orwell prize

Comments

[Matt W]

The way I read it, Hari has walked away from the wreckage and Blackhurst is up a creek with no paddle.

Who's going to footnote all the inventions in Hari's archive, now?

They can't leave it alone, as there's any amount of problems which have not come out yet.

There's also the small matter of Blackhurst parroting the Kelner line at a Judicial Enquiry. It wasn't true, complete or accurate when Kelner said it, and it is even less so now.

[John]

Hari, finally, realised which way the wind was blowing. If he'd have gone back to the Indy then not one of his fabricated columns would have the comments enabled, as people were ready to pounce. I think the penny might have dropped that he's finished as a credible journalist - if he ever was one.