"All The President's Men": The Threats That Truth Entails

In Alan J. Pakula’s political thriller, All the President’s Men, the issue on trust and reliance on the powerful individuals in the American government surfaces, creating doubt towards what the public may truly know about the country’s leaders. The movie is about two reporters, namely Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who work for the renowned Washington Post, and were assigned to report on a local incident. They were tasked to report on the burglary that had taken place at the Watergate Complex in 1972. After their investigation, they had discovered that coincidentally, the Democratic Headquarters had been in the same area. The two individuals seek the truth and sought through their investigation to find out the real case and facts they had wanted to inform the public of, despite their preconceived notions towards each other.

Taken from http://www.belcourt.org/events/all-the-presidents-men.2081782

All the President’s Men was a movie of perseverance, where it had shown the risks and the challenges a journalist goes through to seek the truth and let the public know about it. The film had reflected the power that journalists carry in educating the public on certain facts that are hidden. Through the difficulties and various affairs with the risk of their profession, the movie taught any aspirant the importance of staying true to your duty as someone who seeks the truth and delivers the truth.

The two main characters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, had experienced the toughest challenges a journalist could experience. It is easily the most challenging aspect of a journalist’s job to deliver a story without any proven facts but strong speculation, merely an open mind and the thirst to seek the truth. The film had reflected the risk of life as a journalist, the struggle in maintaining a reputable connection with those in power, and to deliver the public with truth despite the threats and challenges. The film had been an example of the risk that comes with delivering a story to the public, especially when it involves a story with the powerful individuals of the country. Journalists are to think quickly and critically of each story they find, as they do not adapt how they tell a story depending on the people in it. When relaying such stories, they present the public with facts and discoveries that do not always flatter those they report about, creating a dislike towards them and what they may do. When these reporters had decided to flesh out the story further, they had discovered that the case was beyond a simple burglary, but a case that involved some of the country’s most powerful individuals and delivering justice. Composing stories that do not show the best face of the powerful may risk your life, and a sacrifice often made by dedicated journalists.

Taken from https://www.jer-cin.org.il/en/movie-group/17827

Furthermore, the challenge of sourcing their facts reflects a great struggle because of how limited the sources of relevant and reliable information can be, and where they may come from. Maintaining their relationships with the people around them, along with the people who in "power" may become beneficial for them, but may tread a thin line by refraining them to report the truth. The movie had shown the many unethical approaches towards gathering information, revealing how they are firm in completing their stories. As journalists, it becomes their everyday life to converse with people with critical thought towards such information, digesting this into a story that the majority may understand better. In the context of the movie, after discovering that the incident was beyond a burglary and had involved those in the political offices, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein had sought through speculations and sought facts through any individual with a connection to the involved parties. They had utilized the people around them and had their own whistle blower, Deep Throat, involved, getting into details for their story.

Journalists who choose to brave through such reports are individuals who risk their lives for the sake of their profession, and to deliver the truth. The struggle to seek and deliver the truth comes at the expense of their lives and their security.

The film had taught the importance of being critical towards what you seek and to drive through challenges with passionate, helping you build a purpose within your duty, especially as a journalist. Journalism has the power to build revolutions and educate the masses through words, rather than violence, reflecting the impact and importance of the truth in each story told. The risk that many journalists experience to deliver the truth is an ever present issue that has been seen in the past decades, and up to this date, showing the power of news in impacting and dictating history.

Taken from https://uproxx.com/movies/all-the-presidents-men-retrospective/3/

I learned how the profession is more than just each story you publish, but a chance to educate the public on what is happening. Journalism is a powerful tool in sparking change within a society and within each individual, because it builds knowledge on certain scenarios that may be overlooked. I learned how detail, facts, and verification are crucial in delivering each story, because telling a story is letting the public know about something they may have no or little knowledge over. The most important lesson I learned would be the purpose you place within each story, and understanding why and how important the story is. In understanding the importance, the delivery is more than just a story, but a revolution that could change society.

Delivering the truth is a difficult aspect of journalism, as there is a need to always verify your facts and to source them well. It is through this that the public is able to learn and think more critically of what they know to be true. It encourages the public to think beyond what is presented to them and be more careful towards what they believe in. By educating the public and delivering their news, they empower each individual to think for themselves and share the passion for educating others about the truth.