Take a good look at how Bob Woodward gathers information in Chapter 1 of All the President's Men. What does it reveal about the work of an investigative journalist? Refer to specific examples of his techniques in the reading.
One specific tactic that i noticed that Woodward used would be to continuously pester Douglas Caddy for information no matter how many times he would tell Woodward he had nothing to say. Ironically he did give Woodward small bits of information. I think that Caddy, as well as other people who do not wish to comment, believed that if he gave Woodward a small amount of information, then Woodward would leave him alone. "Im not in the case" "Why are you here?" "Look," Caddy said, "I met one of the defendants, Bernard Barker, at a social occasion." In this conversation Caddy continues to tell Woodward he does not wish to speak to him, however allows small pieces of information to slip out. This reveals investigative reporters will not give up on possible information and are aware of ways to pull it out of individuals.
The way that Bob Woodward gathers information during the first chapter tells me a few things about investigative journalism. My most apparent observation is that investigative journalism is they sometimes have to pry beyond there limitations. Although they may upset people, its the price they pay for writing a high qualtiy piece. An example of this is when the author is getting questioned for why he's involved at all. They also have to use different techniques of how to draw information out of people, which is used many times throughout the first chapter. Christian Connors
Something else Woodward did was actually go to the hearing of the burglars. This shows how much extra work a journalist has to do outside of the office. He also listened intently and heard that McCord was part of the CIA, something he was trying to say quietly.
The thing that caught my attention the most about Woodward’s way of gathering information is the amount of calls that he makes to get more details about the story. Every time he talked to someone, he would get more people to contact. I always knew that being a journalist meant interviewing people constantly but I thought it was mostly in person. In Woodward’s case, most of the times it is through the phone. I also realized that he uses his own sources very often to get new information. An example is “Woodward called an old friend and sometimes source who worked for the federal government…” (23). The first chapter mentioned Woodward calling people very often. For example: “The attorney could only remember vaguely the girl’s last name-Westall or something like that. They contacted five persons with similar last names before Woodward finally reached Harlan A. Westrell, who said he knew McCord,”(21),“the reporters divided the names and began calling them at home,”(21).
Bob Woodward is exploring all of the leads that he could identify and was very persistent in asking questions to gather information about the five people that broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This reveals that in order for an investigative journalist to be successful, they need to be persistent and imaginative about going after information. An example of this was when Woodward was given the name of Howard E. Hunt by one of his sources. He then went on to identify "E. Howard Hunt Jr., in Potomac Maryland" (22). He then traced Mr. Hunt to the office of Mr. Colson at the White House, where he learned that Hunt was working as a consultant. Afterwards, he found out that Mr. Hunt had worked for the CIA from 1949 until 1970.
In chapter 1, Bob Woodward continued to ask Douglas Caddy questions, even if Caddy refused to answer or tried to change the subject. One thing I noticed about journalists, is that they keep asking questions until they get answers. Once they have that informtation, they continue for more to connect all of the dots together.
I agree with many others in that Woodward’s persistency, seen through his unrelenting badgering and questioning, is an important investigative reporting technique that he uses to gather information throughout the first chapter. I also think the trips Woodward pursues shows that investigative reporters must be highly dedicated to their work and assertive in conducting interviews. He drives to McCord’s home after a failed telephone call leaves his questions unanswered. Similarly, early in chapter 2, we see that Woodward takes a vacation to Lake Michigan on the same day that the report about Liddy being fired is published. This shows that the work of an investigative reporter is continuous because one lead always gives way to another, and an investigative reporter must always be ready to react.
The work of an investigative journalist is difficult sometimes you get a lead and sometimes you dont. Bob woodward loves being a journalist so i get the feeling that he doesnt mind digging for information. Or waiting to see if a new lead will pop out at any time.
All the Presidents Men reveals that journalists have to be persistent when trying to get information out of sources because they try to deceive the journalist then the information that the journalist is looking for causes them to look bad. An example is how Howard Hunt makes it so that when people try to contact himself they have to go through a obstacle course of people that transfer the caller around, and then once Bob finally does reach him, Howard just hangs up the phone on Bob.
As an investigative journalist, Woodward is very persistent when it comes to obtaining information, perhaps even "nosy" to a degree. He seems very passionate about his job, and will continuously dig deeper and deeper to find the information he wants. This is first evidenced by his constant badgering of Caddy in the courthouse, in which he is successful in receiving more information the more he persists. Also, he indirectly reaches Mr. Hunt through a series of calls to related people, in which he finally connects the dots to obtain the information he needs. Ultimately, it's this "tactful nosiness" that makes a good investigative reporter.
The way that Bob woodward was gathering information is an example of how sometimes being a good journalist will make you some enemies. The constant badgering provided by him is the way he gets his stories. The end up just giving up and teling him what he wants. While it might sound abrasive, that's the only way you can get your story sometimes. Being an investigative reporter means that you make peope uncomfortable. Just when you realize the nature of the job, what to some people might be consitered rude is just nessicarry procedure for this professtion.
One specific tactic that i noticed that Woodward used would be to continuously pester Douglas Caddy for information no matter how many times he would tell Woodward he had nothing to say. Ironically he did give Woodward small bits of information. I think that Caddy, as well as other people who do not wish to comment, believed that if he gave Woodward a small amount of information, then Woodward would leave him alone.
ReplyDelete"Im not in the case"
"Why are you here?"
"Look," Caddy said, "I met one of the defendants, Bernard Barker, at a social occasion."
In this conversation Caddy continues to tell Woodward he does not wish to speak to him, however allows small pieces of information to slip out. This reveals investigative reporters will not give up on possible information and are aware of ways to pull it out of individuals.
The way that Bob Woodward gathers information during the first chapter tells me a few things about investigative journalism. My most apparent observation is that investigative journalism is they sometimes have to pry beyond there limitations. Although they may upset people, its the price they pay for writing a high qualtiy piece.
ReplyDeleteAn example of this is when the author is getting questioned for why he's involved at all. They also have to use different techniques of how to draw information out of people, which is used many times throughout the first chapter.
Christian Connors
Something else Woodward did was actually go to the hearing of the burglars. This shows how much extra work a journalist has to do outside of the office. He also listened intently and heard that McCord was part of the CIA, something he was trying to say quietly.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that caught my attention the most about Woodward’s way of gathering information is the amount of calls that he makes to get more details about the story. Every time he talked to someone, he would get more people to contact. I always knew that being a journalist meant interviewing people constantly but I thought it was mostly in person. In Woodward’s case, most of the times it is through the phone. I also realized that he uses his own sources very often to get new information. An example is “Woodward called an old friend and sometimes source who worked for the federal government…” (23). The first chapter mentioned Woodward calling people very often. For example: “The attorney could only remember vaguely the girl’s last name-Westall or something like that. They contacted five persons with similar last names before Woodward finally reached Harlan A. Westrell, who said he knew McCord,”(21),“the reporters divided the names and began calling them at home,”(21).
ReplyDeleteBob Woodward is exploring all of the leads that he could identify and was very persistent in asking questions to gather information about the five people that broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This reveals that in order for an investigative journalist to be successful, they need to be persistent and imaginative about going after information. An example of this was when Woodward was given the name of Howard E. Hunt by one of his sources. He then went on to identify "E. Howard Hunt Jr., in Potomac Maryland" (22). He then traced Mr. Hunt to the office of Mr. Colson at the White House, where he learned that Hunt was working as a consultant. Afterwards, he found out that Mr. Hunt had worked for the CIA from 1949 until 1970.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 1, Bob Woodward continued to ask
ReplyDeleteDouglas Caddy questions, even if Caddy refused to answer or tried to change the subject. One thing I noticed about journalists, is that they keep asking questions until they get answers. Once they have that informtation, they continue for more to connect all of the dots together.
I agree with many others in that Woodward’s persistency, seen through his unrelenting badgering and questioning, is an important investigative reporting technique that he uses to gather information throughout the first chapter. I also think the trips Woodward pursues shows that investigative reporters must be highly dedicated to their work and assertive in conducting interviews. He drives to McCord’s home after a failed telephone call leaves his questions unanswered. Similarly, early in chapter 2, we see that Woodward takes a vacation to Lake Michigan on the same day that the report about Liddy being fired is published. This shows that the work of an investigative reporter is continuous because one lead always gives way to another, and an investigative reporter must always be ready to react.
ReplyDeleteThe work of an investigative journalist is difficult sometimes you get a lead and sometimes you dont. Bob woodward loves being a journalist so i get the feeling that he doesnt mind digging for information. Or waiting to see if a new lead will pop out at any time.
ReplyDeleteAll the Presidents Men reveals that journalists have to be persistent when trying to get information out of sources because they try to deceive the journalist then the information that the journalist is looking for causes them to look bad. An example is how Howard Hunt makes it so that when people try to contact himself they have to go through a obstacle course of people that transfer the caller around, and then once Bob finally does reach him, Howard just hangs up the phone on Bob.
ReplyDeleteAs an investigative journalist, Woodward is very persistent when it comes to obtaining information, perhaps even "nosy" to a degree. He seems very passionate about his job, and will continuously dig deeper and deeper to find the information he wants. This is first evidenced by his constant badgering of Caddy in the courthouse, in which he is successful in receiving more information the more he persists. Also, he indirectly reaches Mr. Hunt through a series of calls to related people, in which he finally connects the dots to obtain the information he needs.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, it's this "tactful nosiness" that makes a good investigative reporter.
The way that Bob woodward was gathering information is an example of how sometimes being a good journalist will make you some enemies. The constant badgering provided by him is the way he gets his stories. The end up just giving up and teling him what he wants. While it might sound abrasive, that's the only way you can get your story sometimes. Being an investigative reporter means that you make peope uncomfortable. Just when you realize the nature of the job, what to some people might be consitered rude is just nessicarry procedure for this professtion.
ReplyDelete