13 Facts About Jayson Blair

Jayson Thomas Blair was born on March 23,1976 and is a former American journalist who worked for The New York Times.

Jayson Blair declined in order to complete more coursework for graduation, but returned to the Times in June 1999 with a year of coursework left to complete.

Jayson Blair was later promoted to a full reporter and then to editor.

Jonathan Landman, Jayson Blair's editor, told the Siegal committee he felt that Jayson Blair's being black played a large part in the younger man's initial promotion in 2001 to full-time staffer.

Jayson Blair was diagnosed with bipolar disorder for the first time.

Jayson Blair has acknowledged that he had been self-medicating when he was dealing with substance abuse of alcohol and cocaine in earlier years.

Jayson Blair later returned to college to complete his postponed degree.

The year after he left the Times, Jayson Blair wrote a memoir, Burning Down My Masters' House, published by New Millennium Books in 2004.

Jayson Blair discussed journalistic practices at the Times, and his view of race relations and disagreements among senior editors at the newspaper.

Since the scandal, Jayson Blair has spoken to journalism classes and groups about what he describes as the slippery slope that lead him to fabricate and plagiarize.

Jayson Blair has said he regretted writing the book as early as he did and recommends people not read it.

In 2006, Jayson Blair was running a support group for people with bipolar disorder, for which he has received continuing treatment.

Jayson Blair has advocated for more ethical reporting in the true crime genre.