The scandal of Jayson Blair, the young black New York Times reporter, refuses to die. Blair resigned after it was discovered that he'd fabricated some of his most colorful stories. And the pack is turning to other error-prone New York Times reporters such as Rick Bragg. I'm enjoying this as much as anyone else in the New York media world, but feel obliged to inject some perspective. Jayson Blair is an exception at the New York Times; his journalistic 'techniques' are standard practice among British hacks. And, if I have a complaint about the New York Times, it's not about accuracy; the newspaper's dull. Howell Raines was trying to jazz it up. Whether he stays or goes, his external critics and the inhouse reactionaries will be watching. The old, cautious Times used to be known as the Gray Lady. Welcome her back. Google Search: jayson blair