Online Journalism

Journalist and former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, along with political news correspondent Tucker Carlson, appeared in a C-SPAN video conference with George Mason University. Both guests answered questions from students ranging from the current situation in Egypt to their careers in the media.

Rather stressed the importance of determination in young journalists and the ability to write well and quickly. He also emphasized that “curiosity is the bedrock of being a good reporter,” and it is absolutely necessary for young people to be interested in journalism. They must be able to relate to the emotions of the American people, while still striving for objectivity and putting up a strong front when needed in times of great uncertainty.

Rather went on to discuss the Watergate scandal and the assassination of President Kennedy, both events of which he covered in his tremendous career. At the time of the assassination, the media had “tremendous differences” compared to today’s media. Now, the dominant source of information in the Internet, while back then it was radio and television. We have so many more channels of information available to us today- you experience news almost everywhere. Television may be on the back-burner for many, but Rather says it’s strength is that it “can take you there.”

Regarding Nixon’s presidency, Rather said, “In America, presidents are not sun gods.” Rather stressed the importance of our political heads to be treated with “equal justice under the law,” exactly as every other person in America should be treated.

When asked about the current situation of news and reporting in the United States, Rather said, “American journalism needs a spine transplant!”

Carlson agreed with this statement, and argued that American journalists are “unwilling to take on figures of authority.” This can be seen with the Iraq War and former President Bush’s theory for ‘weapons of mass destruction.’ We as journalists need to weed out the ‘fishy’ information from the rest and dive deep into investigative journalism techniques to discover the truth behind big issues.

Carlson also stressed that each individual reading the news has a responsibility to sort out the information and decide what is fact and what is fiction. Believing everything that you see or hear is a huge fallacy that so many people commit.

Having the opportunity to participate in such a great conference with Mr. Rather and Mr. Carlson is something I will always cherish. As a journalist, I look forward to living by Mr. Rather’s words: “I’ll do my lead-level best to get as close to the truth as I can.”