Seymour Hersh: A reporter's reporter

For six decades, the investigative journalist has exposed corruption, war crimes, and political scandals.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Seymour Hersh, the subject of the documentary "Cover-Up," has been an investigative journalist for over 60 years, exposing stories that have changed public opinion and government policy. The film explores Hersh's career, his pursuit of the truth, and his impact on American journalism.

Why it matters

Hersh's reporting on the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War and the torture at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War are just two examples of how his work has held the powerful accountable and challenged the status quo. As an 88-year-old journalist still driven by his pursuit of the truth, Hersh's story provides insight into the evolving role of investigative journalism in the modern era.

The details

The documentary "Cover-Up" by Mark Obenhaus and Laura Poitras chronicles Hersh's storied career, from his beginnings as a police reporter in Chicago to his time at The New York Times, where he broke major stories like the Watergate scandal. The film also explores Hersh's techniques, including his ability to build trust with sources and his willingness to "scream" to get attention for his stories, even if it meant clashing with his own editors. Despite some missteps, such as being duped by forged documents, Hersh's commitment to exposing the truth has remained unwavering.

  • Hersh has been an investigative journalist for over 60 years, starting in the 1960s.
  • The documentary "Cover-Up" was released in 2026.

The players

Seymour Hersh

An 88-year-old investigative journalist who has spent his career exposing corruption, war crimes, and political scandals, including the My Lai massacre and the torture at Abu Ghraib prison.

Mark Obenhaus

The director of the documentary "Cover-Up" about Seymour Hersh's career.

Laura Poitras

The co-director of the documentary "Cover-Up" and the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind "CitizenFour," a film about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Jeff Gerth

Hersh's former reporting partner who explains some of Hersh's techniques in the documentary.

Elizabeth Hersh

Seymour Hersh's wife of 61 years, who convinced him to return to the documentary after he initially quit.

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What they’re saying

“He loves people. Even though he can be a little cranky.”

— Laura Poitras, Co-director of "Cover-Up" (Cover-Up)

“He's somebody who's really driven by his pursuit of the truth no matter where it leads him and who it might anger.”

— Laura Poitras, Co-director of "Cover-Up" (Cover-Up)

“Older, time to quit, time to back off.”

— Seymour Hersh (Cover-Up)

“Can you give up what's going on now? Can you really walk away from being a reporter now, what's going on? I mean, no. Look where we are. We're in someplace we haven't been.”

— Seymour Hersh (Cover-Up)

“We always pretend we know more than we do!”

— Seymour Hersh (Cover-Up)

What’s next

The documentary "Cover-Up" is now streaming on Netflix, providing viewers with a deeper look into Seymour Hersh's storied career and the evolving role of investigative journalism.

The takeaway

Seymour Hersh's unwavering commitment to exposing the truth, no matter the consequences, has made him a towering figure in American journalism. His story serves as a testament to the power of investigative reporting to hold the powerful accountable and challenge the status quo, even in the face of adversity.