But the worst thing for any
journalist is to have someone who prominently figures in a story pop
up after the fact and say "He never even tried to talk to me."

A retired journalist. Bob Brown was the only person in any way "vital
to the story" that wasn't interviewed. We don't really know whether
the author tried to talk to him.

He did not try to talk to the owner of Satori. Was even quoted saying
"he is not the sort of person I'd want to talk to". Was the owner "vital
to the story"? I think so, given the attention that part of the story
received , and also given the public naming of a person in such
derogatory fashion.


Even after it was revealed that Satori stayed afloat for 10 days after
the storm and the author reluctantly acknowledged that in subsequent
paperback editions, he still did not attempt to talk to the owner. Nor
did he do enough research to get the story right about where the boat
drifted ashore.


Not just sloppy. Callously irresponsible. Reckless disregard for a
person's reputation. Any responsible journalist would give the subject
an opportunity to comment.