What, did he have to write "I will not be hack" 100 times on the blackboard? In the grand scheme of things Albom's screwup was minor, but I think people wrong to dismiss it. It's one thing to be a young ambitious reporter and, being on deadline, pull this kind of bullshit. It's wrong, but you do it because you feel you have to.
Of course, Albom is a superstar. He doesn't have to do anything. He did what he did simply beacuse he believed he was entitled to.
While Albom certainly isn't central to my news world, he is in the ranks of the untouchables - people who, once having achieved a certain level of stardom, are no longer bound by the rules that mere mortals are. And, when they do get caught out, they're still not really punished.
