On Friday, an episode of the popular Public Radio International program “This American Life” was removed from archival availability when it came to light that one of the show’s past guests may have lied about the information he provided.
The episode in question delved into what the allegedly horrific working conditions found at Foxconn, Apple’s manufacturing partner in China.
“Significant fabrications” were told during the broadcast, the producers of the show announced before the weekend, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Airing in January, the 39-minute story by Mike Daisey helped create a media firestorm over alleged abuses at the Foxconn factory. “This American Life” says it has become the show’s most popular podcast, downloaded 880,000 times.
The controversial episode was based a monologue by Mike Daisey, a theatrical performer and writer.
Marketplace China Correspondent Rob Schmitz “located and interviewed Daisey’s Chinese interpreter Li Guifen (who goes by the name Cathy Lee professionally with westerners). She disputed much of what Daisey has been telling theater audiences since 2010 and much of what he said on the radio.”
“We’re horrified to have let something like this onto public radio,” Ira Glass, the show’s host wrote on a blog
post. “Many dedicated reporters and editors — our friends and colleagues — have worked for years to build the reputation for accuracy and integrity that the journalism on public radio enjoys. It’s trusted by so many people for good reason. Our program adheres to the same journalistic standards as the other national shows, and in this case, we did not live up to those standards.”
Through it all, Daisey says “I stand by my work.”
