Communication Students Hear Journalist Bob Woodward

By Morgan Williams '15, School of Communication

On March 12, 17 communication students and three faculty members went to hear a lecture by award-winning investigative journalist Bob Woodward at Eastern Connecticut State University. Woodward became famous after his coverage of the Watergate scandal in 1973, for which the Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.  The Academy Award-winning movie All the President’s Men is based on the book of the same title by Woodward and his partner at the Post, Carl Bernstein.

Woodward was also the lead reporter for the Washington Post in its coverage of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, which won the Pulitzer Prize for National Affairs Reporting in 2002.  In addition, Woodward has authored 12 best-selling non-fiction books and has been described as “the best reporter of our time” by Bob Schieffer of CBS News.

In his lecture, Woodward discussed the dangers of secrecy in government and gave several examples from his own experience covering the American presidency since the Nixon administration. He remarked that journalists must usher in the light to protect our democracy and warned that this is a treasure we must guard carefully.  

Woodward also commented on the current political gridlock in Washington D.C., which he said is caused by a civil war within the two major political parties.  The tension has grown so thick between Republicans and Democrats, he said, that there is a real breakdown in communication, illustrated by the fact that some leading members of the two parties have never even met each other.

The trip to hear Woodward's lecture was sponsored by the School of Communication, and organized by Professor Elizabeth Burt.