Hersey, however, was no fan of the fashionable "New Journalism" practiced by writers such as Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe. The concept of the nonfiction novel, a term coined by Truman Capote to describe In Cold Blood, his best-selling 1966 book about a murder in Kansas, was, in Hersey's view, dangerous. Making things up, as novelists do, would undermine the reader's belief in journalism, which had to remain pure.
Journalist and author John Hersey critiqued the "New Journalism" movement, which included prominent figures like Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe. He was particularly concerned about the emerging concept of the nonfiction novel, which Truman Capote popularized with his acclaimed work, "In Cold Blood." Hersey believed that incorporating fictional elements into journalism could compromise its integrity, fundamentally altering the reader's trust in factual reporting.
Hersey's views reflect a passionate defense of traditional journalism, insisting that it should be free from the embellishments typical of fiction. By maintaining a strict adherence to truth, he argued, journalists could uphold the credibility that the public relies on. This tension between narrative styles and the pursuit of objective reporting remains a significant debate in the field of journalism.
