Reporters on the Job

from the October 8, 2008 edition

• Obama's Nation: Correspondent Rob Crilly says that conservative author Jerome Corsi's arrival last Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, didn't attract much attention. But the planned event Tuesday, to launch "The Obama Nation," a book critical of Barack Obama, landed Mr. Corsi on the front pages in Kenya – and prompted his deportation Tuesday (see story).

"Kenyans have been following the election very closely. He's a local hero. His popularity cuts across tribal boundaries. That's rare here," says Rob. "Most Kenyans won't be upset that he's been deported. "

Lately, says Rob, foreign journalists have beaten a path to the doors of Mr. Obama's relatives in Kenya. His father was born there. "Family members have been surprised at how many have come looking to dig up some dirt on Obama."

• A Talking Cheater: To find a live example of someone who has lied on his résumé, correspondent Anuj Chopra approached a friend from his college days who now works for an IT company. "He assured me there isn't a dearth of 'CV cheats,' but it would be difficult finding someone who'd be willing to bare his soul to a journalist," he says. But by promising anonymity, Anuj got his cheater.

"A few days later, someone agreed to talk to me, provided I didn't reveal his last name or the name of his employer, a software company. We met in a restaurant in Pune," says Anuj. "He was a well-dressed, mature 32-year-old, relaxed and composed, but remorseless. Afterward, he urged me again: 'You won't reveal my identity, no?' "

– David Clark Scott

World editor

Cultural snapshot

Two employees at the Saatchi Gallery in London walk past a prone silica gel sculpture. It's part of a new exhibit featuring 24 of China's leading new artists. Lefteris Pitarakis/AP More cultural snapshots

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