ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː, wˌɛn ɪt wʌz dɪskˈʌvɚd ðæt jˌuːˌɛsˈeɪ tədˈeɪ ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾɚ dʒˈæk kˈɛli hæd fˈæbɹᵻkˌeɪɾᵻd sˌʌm ʌv hɪz stˈoːɹiz, jˌuːˌɛsˈeɪ tədˈeɪ tˈɜːnd tə hˈɪlɪɚd, ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð vˈɛɾɚɹən ˈɛdɪɾɚz dʒˈɑːn sˈeɪdʒənθˌeɪlɚɹ ˌɛsˈɑːɹ. ænd bˈɪl kˈɑːvætʃ, tə mˈɑːnɪɾɚ ðɪ ɪnvˌɛstɪɡˈeɪʃən.
In 2002, when it was discovered that USA Today reporter Jack Kelley had fabricated some of his stories, USA Today turned to Hilliard, along with veteran editors John Seigenthaler Sr. and Bill Kovach, to monitor the investigation.