The Lessons of Woodward and Bernstein

In journalism, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's work on the Watergate scandal stands as a Mount Rushmore to how good journalism is done. So their comments at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner should be heeded both journalists and editors everywhere for the wisdom inherent in them. 

Overall, their comments were spot-on. but there were a few things that need further comment.

First, from Carl Bernstein:

During our coverage of Watergate and since, Bob and I have learned a lot from one another about the business of being reporters.

Let me list here a few of the primary elements of Bernstein’s [reportorial] education from Woodward: one, almost inevitably, unreasonable government secrecy is the enemy, and usually the giveaway about what the real story might be. And when lying is combined with secrecy, there is usually a pretty good roadmap in front of us.

Yes, follow the money, but follow, also, the lies. 

The problem here is we live in a country where the best liars get elected. Following the lies can lead to a lot of wild goose chases. During the last election and ever since then, the mainstream media (MSM) has wasted a lot of breath and print on Trump's lies, as if they meant anything. There is a joke about politicians: If their lips are moving, they're lying. Following political lies is an exercise in futility.

The key is to know what is an important lie. When a politician is in front of the camera or otherwise speaking publicly, things they say are usually unimportant. Donald Trump's ascendancy to the White House has proven that.

The TRUTH is WE THE PEOPLE are so used to being lied to, WE THE PEOPLE no longer even listen. Politics is nothing more than a ping pong match between D's and R's, as WE THE PEOPLE just keep going back and forth until we get what we want from them.

"Follow the money" is the key, not the lies.

And finally, from Bob Woodward:

Any president and his administration in Washington is clearly entitled to the most serious reporting efforts possible. We need to understand, to listen, to dig. Obviously, our reporting needs to get both facts and tone right. The press, especially the so-called mainstream media, comes under regular attack, particularly during presidential campaigns like this one, and its aftermath.

Like politicians and presidents, sometimes, perhaps too frequently, we make mistakes and go too far. When that happens, we should own up to it. But the effort today to get this best obtainable version of the truth is largely made in good faith.

Mr. President, the media is not fake news.

Let’s take that off the table as we proceed.

Mr. Woodward is forgetting something important: The mainstream media is owned by Wall Street, which is in bed with Washington. The TRUTH about that relationship is only hinted by the MSM, and usually only when a Republican is involved.

True journalism today needs to be untouched by both Wall Street and Washington. You only have to look at the last election to see the most important journalism was done by Wikileaks, a website funded by charitable donations which is very much outside the MSM. We might question their ethics, but their TRUTH is unquestionable.

Getting to the TRUTH is the ultimate goal of any journalist. Woodward and Bernstein were the masters.