MNHQ here: AMA with award winning investigative journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou, Weds 28th Jan, 7-9pm

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi there,

We’re delighted to announce an AMA with award winning investigative journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou on Wednesday 28th January, 7-9pm.

Chloe is the Observer’s narrative editor, and she’s best known for her work exploring the story behind Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path - which you can hear more about in this new Observer podcast.

Please post your questions for Chloe below and join her on the thread on Wednesday evening to hear the answers.

As always, please remember our guidelines - one question per user, follow-ups only if there’s time and most questions have been answered, and please keep it civil.

Thanks,
MNHQ

I am pretty certain they can't speak publicly because they will have signed a contract with the film not to do or say anything that could have an adverse effect on the film's reputation so they will not talk to me or any one else about this I think. I am a HUGE fan of both of them!!!! would have loved an in-person meeting and I did try!

You mentioned there would be a short HNTDDD video in the near future. Is it envisaged there would be anything else on this story?

Oh absolutely, I’m personally well aware of FND as I have ME/CFS and they have similarities.

I know there are lay people who don’t think I really have ME, but they would conceded I definitely have “something” wrong and am unwell.

Just spotted this. I’m really enjoying the podcast Chloe. Have you done any other podcasts?

Thank you! Me too! We know Jason was hugely taken by Moth.

You have to remember I started looking at whether they might have exaggerated the health claims and the medical miracle. I could NEVER have imagined what I came to discover. Each time I thought I had a handle on the story another skeleton fell out of the closet and I was astounded! It has been a very bizarre story to work on.

Thank you so much Chloe for your thorough investigation of TSP and SW and TW, you have validated all of us who read the book and felt disbelief and disgust but then maybe felt we were being unreasonable.

Yes, thank you for taking time to answer our questions and all the work you've put in to uncovering this. I've had some really good conversations with people who initially liked the books and have been horrified to find out how far from the truth it was.

This has been the best AMA on MN I've seen. Thank you.

Thank you Our Chloe!

Ooh, I just thought it a question. Why do you think Sally left the dates on the medical letters rather than redacting them?

Oh my gosh YES!! Please please do check out my other ones. I published one early this year - just before I started work on this investigation....and in fact I believe the tip-off came to me because the person had heard that investigation and thought I might be someone to look into the Walkers.
Lucky Boy is the story of a 50 year old man grappling with what happened to him as a school boy. At the age of 14 he says he was groomed by a very attractive female teacher of 27 at his school. Their months long sexual relationship ended abruptly and retailed his life but when he tries to go back to understand what happened none of the former boys in his school want to help - they just say he was lucky and has nothing to complain about.
https://open.spotify.com/show/5IisnxV5mpAJXWXzBZvBFT

Before that Gas Man tells the story of a German man who was caught in a sting operation in the USA after he was caught selling chemicals to the Iranians for the use in chemical weapons but he escapes and goes on the run - until I hunt him down and interview him in a small town in Germany. Twist at the end...
https://open.spotify.com/show/4NPhQV6XweQvT4y9lRfUQw

Agree on best AMA! - you’ve really engaged & started early! Thank you. Keep us in mind for another case! ;) We’re good :).

Thank you so much for your expose Chloe and coming on here to chat with us and answer all the questions. I hadn’t read or knew much about TSP until seeing your report last year and it was such an eye opener!

On the one hand I hope you get to expose more lies and do the good job of truth telling through the medium of investigative journalism.

On the other hand, I wish human beings could just get on with being honest and decent in the first place and there would be no more lies to reveal! I will of course keep on dreaming…

Thanks Chloe! My husband and I were gripped by the podcasts.

Thank you Chloe.

More podcast at the BBC before I left -

Intrigue: Mayday - about disinformation in the Syrian war and British man who died mysteriously and Burning Sun about a whole world of abuse discovered on the mobile phones of kpop stars.

No idea. Very strange. I suspect she believes her own story.

Thankyou, and have a lovely rest of your week :)

Thanks guys!! its been so fun geeking out on all this with you. Please keep up the good work!!! I enjoyed the ride :-)

Brilliant, thanks so much Chloe!

@OurChloe Thanks very much for your time and making it such an interesting AMA!

Thank you ☺️

Thank you for being here tonight and for your tenacity and diligence with this investigation.
As a former mental health nurse I've previously proposed that MW had a functional neurological disorder.

Thank you so much for giving up your evening to answer our questions@OurChloe. It's been great!

Can’t wait to dive into latest info with rest of charabanc!