This is common in reporting "human interest" stories. If you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who is up to something unique, is that any differe

This is common in reporting "human interest" stories. If you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who is up to something unique, is that any different than getting a tip from your community? This is not a story of consequence but it does speak to an important issue of our day. It's not as though this is the only kind of reporting NY Times does.