The Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat featured an article Thursday about a happy reunion of epic journalistic proportions.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are epic journalistic figures for their reporting of the Watergate scandal that brought down President Nixon. A high-up source nicknamed "Deep Throat" supplied information to the reporters as they progressed in the investigation.
"Deep Throat" went public with his story in 2005. He is Mark Felt, now a sprightly 95 years old. Under Nixon, he had been the No. 2 man in the FBI, and looked to succeed J. Edgar Hoover.
Last week, Woodward and Bernstein went to Felt's home in Santa Rosa, California to thank him for his service. Interestingly enough, it was Bernstein's first time actually meeting Felt. Woodward had always met with the shadowy figure.
"It was a private visit-- a closing of the circle," Bernstein said. "We are both very glad we did it. It was evident he was glad."
This story reminded me of the glory days of investigative reporting. In many respects, it is a shell of its former self as more and more of it becomes trivial drivel.
Is it because of 24-hour news and the constant need to feed the beast, as we watched in class today? Is it fear? Are today's reporters too soft?
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are epic journalistic figures for their reporting of the Watergate scandal that brought down President Nixon. A high-up source nicknamed "Deep Throat" supplied information to the reporters as they progressed in the investigation.
"Deep Throat" went public with his story in 2005. He is Mark Felt, now a sprightly 95 years old. Under Nixon, he had been the No. 2 man in the FBI, and looked to succeed J. Edgar Hoover.
Last week, Woodward and Bernstein went to Felt's home in Santa Rosa, California to thank him for his service. Interestingly enough, it was Bernstein's first time actually meeting Felt. Woodward had always met with the shadowy figure.
"It was a private visit-- a closing of the circle," Bernstein said. "We are both very glad we did it. It was evident he was glad."
This story reminded me of the glory days of investigative reporting. In many respects, it is a shell of its former self as more and more of it becomes trivial drivel.
Is it because of 24-hour news and the constant need to feed the beast, as we watched in class today? Is it fear? Are today's reporters too soft?
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