Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes Season 1 Episode 2 The Reporters

Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes is an investigative journalism series that explores the story behind the sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Through interviews with key players involved in the case, the show reveals the complex web of power and cover-ups that allowed Weinstein to continue his abusive behavior for decades. In episode 2, titled "The Reporters," we focus on the journalists who broke the story and the obstacles they faced in getting it published.

The episode begins with a look at the initial reports that were published about Weinstein. In October 2017, the New York Times shocked the world with a groundbreaking article detailing multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Weinstein. The reporters behind the story, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, discuss the challenges they faced in convincing sources to come forward and the difficulty of verifying their claims.

We also hear from Ronan Farrow, who was working on a similar story for NBC News at the same time. Farrow recounts how his investigative reporting was stymied by higher-ups at the network who were afraid of angering Weinstein and his powerful allies in Hollywood. When NBC eventually killed Farrow's story, he took it to The New Yorker where he was able to publish it to great acclaim.

The episode delves into the power dynamics at play in the media industry, particularly around issues of gender and sexuality. Many of the sources who spoke out against Weinstein were hesitant to do so because they feared being blacklisted in the industry or not being taken seriously by reporters. Journalists themselves also faced pressure, both internally and externally, about how to cover the story.

Despite these challenges, Kantor, Twohey, and Farrow persisted and ultimately helped spark a long-overdue reckoning about sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood and beyond. Their courageous reporting paved the way for other survivors to come forward and demand accountability from powerful abusers.

Overall, "The Reporters" is a powerful and insightful episode of Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes. It highlights the crucial role that investigative journalism can play in exposing wrongdoing and bringing about social change, while also highlighting the challenges and risks that journalists face in pursuing such stories. Anyone interested in the Weinstein scandal, the #MeToo movement, or the ethics of journalism will find this episode to be both informative and thought-provoking.