Though not a traditional news outlet by any means, BusinessWeek, which covers everything from economics to corporation trends, has a stringent set of guidelines they task their journalists with following. BusinessWeek’s Code of Journalistic Ethics looks similar to the majority of those ‘traditional’ outlets I referenced previously — and was much easier to find, too. Their code refers to the ‘unique brand of journalism’ they cover, and while all the typical tenants of a code of ethics are present: integrity, honesty, accuracy, and fairness among them, it contains a heavy slant of business journalism ethics.

1. As it is in all news outlets, BusinessWeek finds it important to differentiate between advertising and editorials. However, this is all that much more important for a publication of BusinessWeek’s ilk. As they cover a far greater number of corporation trends and going-ons then most outlets, it’s tantamount for BusinessWeek to make sure they don’t let one influence the other. All the more likely to editorialize a company who advertises within the publication, BusinessWeek’s very first directive in their code of ethics is establishing a separation of what they call “Church and State” to maintain their integrity.
2. Though their journalistic standards are much the same as most media organizations (as mentioned above), BusinessWeek journalists are given a unique opportunity to insert opinions into their articles, moving the needle away from a strictly “just-the-facts” approach. I found this to be the most interesting part of their code of ethics. While their journalists’ coverage is largely reported in an opinionated and interpretive context, their articles are rooted in fact, and must logically flow from the hard evidence. So while their journalists are allowed to spout off opinions based on their perceptions, they can’t be wildly inaccurate or illogical. In a sense, it’s so unlike most other journalism practices. A reporters’ conclusions, while likely informed and valid, aren’t often inserted into their work, so BusinessWeek’s journalists enjoy a specialized privilege.
3. Though subjectivity of any form is a concern within journalism, by BusinessWeek’s procedures it is implicitly encouraged, albeit on a much smaller scale. While objectivity is something one is likely to find in the vast majority of ethics codes, it’s not quite so for BusinessWeek. Their specialization in analytics, commentary and interpretation means they often shy away from ideal objectivity, though according to the same ethics, they won’t shy away from fairness.
4. Outside of the liberties BusinessWeek takes to provide subject, opinionated journalism stemming from facts, much the same of their code of ethics is par for the course. Their notes about attribution in particular, seem to fall in step with most publications, preferring for on-the-record attributions as opposed to off-the-record and non-attributed information. Their ideals of journalistic integrity are much the same as most, and for good reason. Though BusinessWeek isn’t a pure news outlet in the strictest sense of the word, they expect their journalists to conduct themselves as such.

Sometimes we report about feel-good stories. It’s not often we do. The vast majority of news covered in media outlets today concerns what went wrong in the world that day, not what went right. That’s the nature of the beast. When we do report on stories that we hope will give readers or listeners goose bumps, it’s important not to sensationalize to get that effect. If the story and it’s characters are powerful enough, it’s bound to happen naturally. That’s the tightrope that Zach Hirsch was forced to walk in his harrowing Transom report “100%”.

The nine-minute piece tells the story of Jerry Peckham and his mother Dari Whitehouse, a marathon runner who finally achieved her goal of running in the 2013 Boston Marathon. By now, you know what happens next. The bombings, and subsequent chaos that erupted along Boylston Street on April 15th rocked the city of Boston, and Hirsh’s report transitions seamlessly from runner to son, a desperate search to be reunited in the wake of tragedy.

From a technical standpoint, Hirsh’s audio is tremendous. Jerry’s and Dari’s narration, which makes up the bulk of the report, is crystal clear, and the moments where Hirsh pipes in ominous music or nat sound from the Marathon to set the scene works flawlessly. From a professional standpoint, I found virtually nothing wrong with the audio quality. The impressive editing of the audio is part of what makes the story so interesting. At it’s core, Dari’s story is no different than thousands of others who ran in the Marathon that day, but the story’s pacing, background noise, and most impressively, it’s intuitive use of silence are all factors into what makes it such a captivating story. Hirsch could have written poetically, sensationalizing a story that needed no such, well, sensation, but instead, he let the captivating characters tell the story. Indeed, there isn’t much narration to be had from Hirsch, he let’s his characters do the talking.

I thought his production choices in this story were among some of the best I’ve ever listened to in radio news. He was just present enough to be felt as the reporter, but scaled back his involvement to let the real stars of the story shine. The background noise of the explosion followed by five seconds of stone still silence was the moment that sent shivers up my spine. Hirsch knew exactly what to do, and how to do it, and didn’t get in the way in the slightest.

Lastly, his story and message were abundantly clear. There’s nothing confusing about the story. It moves well from one plot point to the next, moving chronologically after the initial introduction to the report’s characters. I thought Hirsch and his report were a great choice for an audio story. It incorporated everything you’d look for in an impressive audio report, while keeping the sensationalism to a bare minimum. Compelling characters and transportive nat sound can just about tell a story on it’s own, and “100%” encapsulated that, 100%.

In the first chapter of Jonathan Kern’s Sound Reporting, the author details his reasons for why, even with the advent of television news and the Internet, radio news has remained prevalent. He also covers the medium’s lack of flexibility—primarily due to time constraints and no visual format.

1. Reports of radio’s demise were greatly exaggerated, as Kern asserts in his opening chapter. Due to it’s portability and intimacy, people can remain attentive to what they’re listening to even while working on other tasks. (pgs. 1-3)
   
2. There are however, challenges. Radio isn’t placed in a medium with space, meaning the listener can’t move on to the next story, skip a section, check the top stories at will or go back, as they can do with newspapers and Internet articles. Thus the onus is on the station to keep their listeners priorities in mind—returning to cover top stories and headlines later in the show, amongst other decisions. (pgs. 3-6.) Similarly, updates and changes to already covered stories allow radio shows to rerun content that had already been aired, and the Two-Way from today entitled “Talk Turns To Getting Assad To Give Up His Chemical Weapons” is a perfect example of that. The original headline: “Russia Urges Assad To Cede Control Of His Chemical Weapons” changed drastically over the course of the afternoon,  with six different updates occurring between 11:40 a.m. and 2:41 p.m. While diplomacy in regards to Syria was likely the most heavily discussed topic today, the tone of the report changed drastically over the course of the day, allowing listeners who come in later in the day to catch up without missing a beat.

Chapter 2 of Sound Reporting covers a major doctrine of journalistic integrity: fairness. If a station gains a reputation as being unfair or biased for or against one party, they’ll likely lose the only thing that matters in broadcast: the trust of the public.

1. The concept of a newsroom “echo chamber” is particularly troubling. If all (or a majority) of reporters and producers in a newsroom see things from the same perspective, the entirety of the newsgathering process could be distorted. (pgs. 11-16)
2. Just because a report features both sides, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s balanced and fair. If both sides clash on the facts, it turns into a counterclaim argument. It’s important to sift through the noise, consider the source of a claim, AND discover the actual facts before going to air. (pgs. 16-21) NPR’s introduction of “Trail Life USA, The ‘Other’ Boy Scouts of America” does just that, allowing a spokesman of the Boy Scouts to respond to the formation of a faith-based, Christian alternative to their organization.
3. If allegations are critical of a person or party, it’s a must that they are alerted of the accusations, and allowed time to form a response, which also must be incorporated into the report. (pgs. 21-23)

At it’s very essence, sports is driven by the basic principle of entertainment. And though they often don’t receive the same level of credit that their more buttoned-up news cohorts receive, sports reporters who understand how to report and produce their content deserve the same recognition. All it takes it one click on Chicago-based FOX Sports Reporter Lyndsay Petruny’s website to realize that she’s one of those reporters.

Petruny’s home page includes a brief profile next to an updated resume reel, which you can immediately see isn’t like a regular news reel. From the feel-good background music to a well-edited montage of on-air product, Petruny immediately shows she’s the perfect mix of professionalism and goofy to be an energetic and informative sports broadcaster. Soon enough, the music fades and the montage becomes highlights of her work– showcasing a reporter who is equally as comfortable previewing a Patriots football game as she is sliding down an Indianapolis zip line attraction.

Her style is perfect for sports journalism. Sports is an escape from reality, whether it’s a Friday night basketball game or a Sunday in the fall huddled around the television watching football. Fierce competition, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat can take us away, if briefly, from the tragedies erupting around our world. Sports are fun. It’s fun to root for your team and against another. It’s nothing more than entertainment, and from her reel, it’s clear to see Petruny is all about entertaining.

But that’s not to say she’s so silly she loses points for professionalism. Her reel isn’t strictly salsa dancing and throwing footballs through hoops. She has a serious side, and it shows in her stand-ups, interviews and anchoring responsibilities. It’s not all fluff for her, she has a real sense of how she should cover her teams, and her website reflects that.

Her past work page has numerous embedded videos of reports, interviews, and interactive reports. And to me, it’s that interaction that makes her work so appealing. She’s not going to stand there and tell you about what makes the Indianapolis zip-line so cool, she’s going to zip-line herself and bring you along for the ride. Want to know what goes into preparing a stadium for gameday? Lyndsay Petruny’s got you covered.

There’s nothing particularly stellar about her about page. It’s simplistic, detailed, and organized in chronological order. Though most of what you want to know about reporters can be found in their work, it’s nice to ascertain a reporters skills, background, and previous work experience, and she has those listed in an easy to read format.

Though it seems an obvious addition to any reporters website, I love the fact that she has her Twitter account embedded at the bottom of her home page. What better way to show some of her up-to-date viewer interaction than through her Twitter?

At it’s core, her website it what every sports match should be: fun. Someday, I hope mine can be as well.

Potential Job in the Immediate Future

Anchor/Reporter – Casper, Wyoming

Requirements:
Passion and dedication to the news!
Great story teller who writes to video
A knowledge of and curiosity about local, national, and international current affairs.
Familiar with both linear  and non-linear edit systems.
Ability to meet daily deadlines and work cooperatively with other staff members
Must possess a valid driver’s license with no DUI convictions and  pass drug screening
Good phone etiquette
Newsroom computer experience preferred
Applicant should be able to report, shoot, write, produce and edit for air, and write for the web
Ability to carry fifty pounds of television equipment

I feel the reporter/anchor position in Casper, Wyoming is one I could step into at the moment, or in the near future after completing my Masters’ degree. It’s one thing to tell a prospective employer you can do all those things, it’s another to show them. My resume portrays me as a multimedia journalist who has experience one-man banding, meaning I have a working knowledge of editing systems, newsroom computer experience, and most importantly, the ability to report, shoot, write, produce and edit for air.

My reel includes packages I have reported and produced on a daily deadline, and my extensive work within the UF INC over the past year hints at my ability to work cooperatively with others in a newsroom setting. I’ve done a profile report on a local Israeli restauranteur and an investigative look at the city’s panhandling ordinance, which in my opinion, showcase my ability to tell stories and write to my video. As well, nearly two full years of broadcast rundown production and anchoring have give me a solid base of experience and understanding when it comes to that side of on-air coverage, something that while not stated, is certainly implied in a search for an anchor.

However, I have a lot more to learn, and these two added years of academia will make me far more comfortable as a writer — both for the web and broadcast reports, as well as further clue me in to a big tenant of the requirements, a knowledge of local, national, and international affairs. While it’s certainly a dream job in term of first-job responsibilities out of college, it’s location in a small market like Casper, Wyoming makes it attainable.

Potential Job down the Road

Television News Reporter – Fresno, California

KMPH-TV, the Fox affiliate in Fresno, California, seeks a talented and aggressive news reporter who may, at times, fill-in on the anchor desk. Outstanding visual storytelling skills, amazing conversational writing ability, and an aggressive approach to reporting the news are all qualities we seek in our newest team member. Only experienced TV News Reporters will be considered for this position.

What seems a far more demanding job in a higher-profile market, the reporter position at KMPH-TV in Fresno, California isn’t a job I’m likely to get right out of college. The ad requests experienced reporters, and while I’ll have some college level experience, that’s likely not going to satisfy the employers requirements.

Hopefully, my skills will have developed enough five years out that my reel will be filled with reports that showcase my visual storytelling skills and conversational writing ability. While it’s no sure thing to expect improvement if the work isn’t put in, I have a tremendous amount of confidence in my ability to grow and expand as a critical and thoughtful reporter who is capable of telling stories and not just reporting the news.

Though I’ve learned a ton in college, at some point a wall is hit, and only real-world experience can help develop the requisite skills further. In particular, it’s the aggressive approach to reporting the news that I’m not fully comfortable with just yet, and that’s something I’d expect to develop during my first or second job out of college.

In a Monday morning examination of what makes Cincinnati/North Kentucky International Airport (airport code CVG) the best in America, NPR’s Brian Naylor’s September 2nd Morning Edition report proclaims Cincinnati’s Airport: Best In The U.S.?, while bringing the listening audience into CVG and presenting a case for the airport’s placement among the sprawling aviation hubs that dot the world. But even if you didn’t have the time to listen to a full-report, and enjoy the active and engaging ambient sound of the bustling airport, the story’s web presence exemplifies a lot of the aspects that Jonathan Kern’s Sound Reporting chapter on Beyond Radio covered.

Though not among the hard-news driven stories of the past week (namely, American involvement in a seemingly imminent Syrian crisis), this light, consumer-driven report is well produced and centers on the World Airport Awards’ 2013 list of the best airports across the globe. Shockingly (or not so, depending on whom you’d ask) the first American airport isn’t found until 30, where CVG is wedged comfortably between two Australian airports (Melbourne at 29th, Sydney 31st). Populating the list are big name international destinations from around the world — Asia and Eastern Europe dominate the top of the list, but I digress.

Naylor’s narration is energetic and colloquial, which makes for a great listen, but not necessarily a great read. While the audio’s transcript and it’s print counterpart vary almost immediately, the similarities between the two are remarkable. The print story even includes volunteer Charlotte Davis’ laugh when she jokes just how “darn good” she is at her job — telling people where to go.

It’s evident the staffer charged with transcribing Naylor’s report and converting it to print form didn’t take many liberties with regards to rearranging his narration, and for good reason. His clear, concise style works well for the eye, and save for how sound bites are introduced as opposed to the quotes in the written report, the two typed versions are, as previously mentioned, very similar.

The real connectivity of the article comes with it’s various links to related NPR articles, which engage with a reader-centric headline like Coming to an Airport Near You, inform with a report on the worst airports for delays. Coincidentally, Beijing and Shanghai, among the top twenty airports in the rankings, are at the top of the list for delays. For those interested in the politics of such things, the last link rounds out the topically grouped reports with an in-depth look at the US Airways-American Airlines merger and how it could affect airports, particularly Reagan National. For all those search for more info on the aviation business, the linked articles represent various routes curious researchers might take.

Based on the Kern readings, I’d suggest a bullet point list of the features Naylor believes make CVG such a well-regarded airport, or perhaps a graph that breaks down the top rated airports by geography. Extra information could have been a handy reference point for those who like to delve deep for comparing and contrasting.

Lt. William Gainey serves as Deputy Chief in charge of security for football operations.

April 15^th, 2013. That’s the day assured safety and innocence at sporting events evaporated into thin air. On that third Monday in April, known annually as Patriot’s Day in New England, the Boston Marathon bombings reverberated across Boylston Street and stretched across a nation.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the alleged culprit, has been caught. A nation, and one of its’ proudest cities, has shown tremendous resolve. But any attack that pulls off its intended consequences can serve as a lesson, a tool, to help prevent anything of the sort from happening ever again.

As fall approaches, so, too, does another year of football across America. And as football approaches, law enforcement has turned their eyes toward safety at large scale sporting events.

It’s no different at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“We take every year very serious,” Lt. William Gainey of the University Police Department says. “We have no specific threats, no specific bulletins out with the FBI at this time. However, we treat every season the same.”

Gainey serves as the Deputy Operations Chief for Football Operations. With the title comes the task of mobilizing the extensive security detail responsible for maintaining safety and order at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturdays.

As the Gators home opener against Toledo on August 31^st rapidly approaches, Gainey says the security team has taken special note of the Boston Bombings in regards to their game day surveillance.

“Recently, the big thing [that happened] was the Boston Marathon bombings, with the terrorists placing bombs inside of trash cans,” Gainey says, positioning his hands at rest on his desk. “So obviously, we’ve taken steps moving forward, at all our venues on campus to address that issue.”

Gainey is a professional in the truest sense of the word. His office is well lit, courtesy of the glass panels that make up the far wall. His cropped hair and piercing eyes are textbook traits of an officer of the law. His even-keeled demeanor and calm, steady pacing suggest he’s done this before. It’s certainly not his first interview. He continues.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics on what we’re going to do, but rest assured we are very aware of that tactic so we will have measures in place to combat that.”

~*~*~*~*~

William Gainey refuses to talk specifics. No numbers, no locations. It’s an obvious and understandable strategy to play something as vital as stadium security so close to the vest. He does however, outline some of the procedures of the security team on game days.

“Anybody that walks up to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on game day is going to see a lot of police officers. A lot of law enforcement officers at the gates checking for prohibited items. They’re looking for any suspicious person, any suspicious item, any suspicious bulge in anyone’s pocket.”

Patrons are subject to being patted down upon entrance to the stadium, and while those doing the checking are garbed in their police uniforms, not every officer is so easy to spot.

“There’s also a lot of law enforcement that you’re not going to see, in plain clothes, that are assigned to different areas of the stadium looking for anything or anyone out of the ordinary. That’s a huge part of our operations.”

Despite the latest terror attack occurring during a open-aired sporting event (though granted, not in a stadium), Gainey doesn’t seem overly concerned about the imminent threat of an attack in Gainesville.

“We have no specific threat, no specific threat bulletin that indicates we’re going to have any type of terrorist activity or incident on our campus. However, with that being said, we want to treat every event on our campus with the highest level of security.”

~*~*~*~*~

The Florida Gators football team opens and closes every season at roughly the same time. The beginning of September, the end of November, usually with a bowl game appearance sometime in December or January. A five-month season, tops. The same can’t be said for the officers responsible for game day security.

“We take game day operations very serious. This is something that we plan for year round,” Gainey adds, contrasting the schedule of the team. “Football season just doesn’t end for us in November. There’s a lot of planning, a lot of other events that go on throughout the year that helps us prepare for the season.”

Preparation for this season has been underway for some time now. In April, the officers held a training exercise which role played a catastrophic event occurring in the stadium. The purpose of the exercise is to test the wits, reaction time, and communication lines amongst the officers.
“You hope that it simulates as much as possible an actual incident, so you can gauge where you’re at. The level of cooperation, communication is a big key between each agency.”

Gainey is quick to comment on, and commend, the strong level of trust between the other departments, which include the Gainesville Police Department and the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office.

“We’re extremely fortunate that we have… “ He starts, before coming up with a more definitive statement. “I don’t know if we can have better cooperation, better communication between all the major law enforcement agencies in this county.”

Though they’re service extends year round, Gainey is ready to make one comparison to the football team he helps protect.

“I guess in a lot of ways…” Here he smiles. “Just like the players, law enforcement is always practicing for gameday. We’re looking forward to it, I think we’re ready, and we’re ready to go. Let’s get it started.”

Count them as one team that’s always ready.

John “JB” Brown is the Assistant Deli Manager at SweetBay, but more importantly, he’s a single father of three.

John “JB” Brown learned everything he knows about being a parent from his mother. That’s a good thing, too, because over the past eight years, the 51-year-old Sarasota native has had a lot of parenting to do on his own.

As he thinly slices spice-laden Cajun chicken breast and honey maple ham at the Deli Counter of SweetBay Supermarket on 34^th St., Brown – a single parent of three – can’t help but reflect on the bond he shared with her.

“My mother was a nurse over at Shands, but no matter what, there never was a time my mother wasn’t at one of my games, so I didn’t care about anyone else.”

Growing up in Gainesville, Brown excelled at football at Eastside High School, but the three-sport athlete played baseball and basketball, too. Though his strongest affinity was between the hashmarks on a football field, Brown was determined to balance all three evenly, a trait he must have picked up from his mother.

“My mom was one of those strong women. She kept two jobs, was going to school to be a nurse, all at the same time while we were coming up. And she made it. Became an RN while we were still in school.”

Berthenia King showed her five children where hard work and determination could get you. Despite a demanding schedule, she remained a positive influence on her children, passing on a lot more than just determination.

“She’s why I’m in the kitchen, I love the kitchen,” says the Assistant Deli Manager over the low reverberating hum of the deli counter slicer. “That’s why I’m here… because of her. I was the youngest, so she always had me around when she was cooking, and I picked up a lot of what I know from her.”

He stops slicing and shrugs; as the spinning blade slows, the slightest, saddest smile traces across his face.

“She just passed away man, this past May. 76 years old. Still tears me up sometimes.”

At 51, Brown is a single parent raising three young children. Christian is seven, Cassidy four, and Chandler, his youngest, is three. Both Christian and Cassidy are in school at Wiles Elementary, and Chandler isn’t far behind them.

“A man’s gotta be a part of his child’s life,” he states, turning his attention to the Swiss cheese. “That’s what I love most about it, I get to make a real impact in their life. They get to grow up with some real values and strength about things. I don’t run it like a military school. I buy them whatever they want, but they earn it. I wouldn’t trade ‘em for the world.”

But raising three kids at 51 must be difficult.

He just shakes his head.

“Like I said, wouldn’t trade ‘em for the world.”

He says he provides now easily, but it wasn’t always as easy.

Until stumbling on this job back in April, Brown had been without steady work for nearly three years. There were odd jobs here-and-there, but since the Hospital had fired him for being unable to make his hours (“I couldn’t always be there when they scheduled me, couldn’t just leave the kids.”), the money wasn’t stable. But through the struggle, he never lost the hardened determination that had once made his mother so successful.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Wouldn’t trade none of it for the world.”

These days though? It’s a different story. SweetBay understands his situation, he says. They’re flexible with his hours, he says. And while having a consistent income is a relief, it’s the consistent time he can spend with his children that gives him the most pleasure.

“And the thing I love the most, I can really see it, my eight year old, when we’re driving in the car, he’ll tell the other kids: ‘Hey put your seatbelt on, you’re gonna get my Daddy a ticket. The same thing I used to tell him. I hear him doing it, and I smile to myself, cause he’s serious.”

Just as he still sees some of Berthenia King in himself, he sees some of himself in his children.

With any luck, they’ll get his family values too.

Following the events brought on by the seemingly minor Watergate Hotel break-in in 1972, the theatrical version of All the President’s Men is an up close look at Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s quest to expose one of the biggest political scandals of a lifetime. Though the investigative reporters rely heavily on anonymous sources to begin uncovering information, it’s their tireless vetting of sources that eventually allows them to ethically and correctly publish multiple damning reports of illegal espionage and cover-ups that eventually led to President Nixon’s resignation.  An allegation as large as a Presidential scandal isn’t something that can just grace the front page of the Washington Post with a few quotes from the anonymous Deep Throat – it took months of hard work to independently verify the paper trail that connected the Watergate burglars all the way to the top.

Verifying sources isn’t something that’s particularly new or creative in journalism; it’s a process as old as the profession itself. In journalism, few things matters more than reputation – one mistake can do significant damage to the outlet in question, while multiple incorrectly published or exaggerated stories can irrevocably taint the public perception of a news organization for years. Just ask The New Republic or The New York Times how trusting fabricating journalists Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair, respectively, worked out for them. It took both papers years to recover and recover the good faith their consumers had placed in them for decades. If a news organization doesn’t have the trust of the public, what do they have?

Particularly in instances where investigative journalism implicates the American government as being connected to misdoings, we’ve seen distinguished papers seek out multiple sources before publishing their information. While one source might be the initial tip that gets the snowball effect rolling, you would never see a distinguished, respectable paper take the story to the front page with just one person’s voice. In first uncovering and reporting on the National Security Agency’s illegal surveillance on citizens in 2005, New York Times reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau interviewed “nearly a dozen current and former officials,” to corroborate a story that detailed a serious infringement of privacy rights committed by the American government. While it might be natural to wish to rush and publish breaking information as gripping as government cover-ups, no news agency would publish with only one on-record source. At times, the reliance on multiple corroborators can hurt a news agency – there’s a reason Edward Snowden chose to take his leaks to The Guardian rather than the famously thorough Times, but the good of journalistic integrity outweighs the risk of missing out on the big story.

From the beginning, The Washington Post would have been correct in publishing the Watergate scandal using only Deep Throat’s roundabout confirmations and Woodward’s intuitive investigative reporting, but would have been laughed at by the government and distrusted by the public with virtually no sources. Instead, Woodward and Bernstein worked for half a year to find peripheral players who would flesh out the story and give it factual and connected content, such as state attorney investigator Martin Dardis and CREEP treasurer Hugh W. Sloan, Jr. In the end, their refusal to rely on only anonymous sources gained them great respect with their executive editor Ben Bradlee, who is portrayed in the film as being initially unwilling to publish their story. Instead of rushing to get their information out in front of the public as quickly as possible and risk potential backlash of an incorrect fact or egregious error, Woodward and Bernstein took their time to interview different sources that could all contribute their own piece of the puzzle, before finally and largely exposing the Nixon Presidency as a sham. If reporters in this day and age were faced with the same information regarding Obama or any of his cabinet, you’d have to expect they’d take the same amount of time to vet and verify their sources, too.