Seymour Hersh and the Challenges of Filming a Life in Investigative Journalism

The Guardian’s feature explores veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh and the making of the documentary *Cover-Up* by directors Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus. Hersh, renowned for exposing the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq, is portrayed as both combative and uncompromising. The 88-year-old journalist reflects on his long career, the state of modern journalism, and the decline of traditional media institutions that once supported in-depth reporting. The film revisits his monumental work while also acknowledging his reliance on anonymous sources and his volatile temperament, which led him to briefly quit the project mid-production.

Poitras, known for *Citizenfour* and *All the Beauty and the Bloodshed*, captures not only Hersh’s legacy but also the broader crisis facing journalism. She criticizes major media outlets for self-censorship and their increasing reluctance to challenge political power, particularly in the Trump era. Obenhaus echoes these concerns, noting the fragmentation of media and the rise of unreliable online information. Hersh now publishes on Substack, valuing its independence despite lamenting the loss of mainstream reach. The article concludes with a reflection on Hersh’s enduring belief in journalism’s vital role, even as institutions falter. His reception at the Venice premiere — emotional and ambivalent — reflects both his reputation as a tenacious outsider and his discomfort with praise.