This evening we had the opportunity to view the 1976 award-winning film All the President's Men. While it was the second time I had seen this movie, it was the first time I watched it in a room full of journalism advisers. The first time was as part of a course on the First Amendment, and it impacted me a great deal. This time, however, the impact was even greater.
All the President's Men effectively illustrates so much of what we have discussed over the past three days. Most obviously, we can see the importance of the Freedom of the Press, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, discussed with Ken Paulson on Monday. We can also see the passion of two reporters who want to make a difference, just like Dylan Smith who spoke with us on Tuesday evening. Woodward and Bernstein constantly asked "Where's the story?" an idea that we explored heavily with Dave Seibert, as well as throughout the our first three days in Phoenix. They also bent over backwards to collect credible sources and confirm facts in an ethical way, which we discussed today.
Furthermore, the story of Woodward and Bernstein highlights just how important it is for us to share these lessons we are learning with our journalism students. Both public education and journalism are currently enduring intense scrutiny and change. It's not easy to be an educator or a journalist in 2012 American society. In fact, as I browsed Twitter this evening, a tweeted link from the Huffington Post caught my eye: "Gallup Poll: Confidence in America's Public Schools Hits Record Low." According to the poll, public schools rank eighth...just ahead of newspapers, in which Americans apparently have even less confidence. Wow.
Now more than ever, we are faced with making sure that we teach all of our students well, but as journalism advisers, we have a special mission. We must teach and guide our student journalists to not only write well, but also understand their First Amendment rights, and uphold the ethics that are so important to a respectable publication. It's an honor to know that we are in a position to help them develop skills that will make them not just reporters and writers, but hopefully responsible American citizens.
Ben Bradlee said it best to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in All the President's Men: "Nothing's riding on this except the First Amendment to the Constitution, Freedom of the Press, and maybe the future of the country."
We really have our work cut out for us, don't we?
Marlo Spritzer
Southern Lehigh High School
Center Valley PA
First, let me say that the Gallup Poll results are simply sad. Of course I would choose to pursue two professions least trusted by the public. Second, It strikes me not only how much we have to share what we are learning with our students, but how uncomfortable it may be for many educators to do this when they have not yet mastered the information they are sharing. With frequent and swift shifts in technology happening, we can hardly keep up. We, as educators, will have to become comfortable with learning right alongside our students. Things like the First Amendment lessons are old ones, but we are translating them into current times -- making them relevant to the world our students live in. That challenges me, because I haven't mastered their times and the skills needed to exist in their community. I suppose that may be why we have changed to a facilitator model of teaching rather than the lecturer with all of the expertise. That model simply can't exist anymore. Thanks, Marlo. You're thoughts always leave me pondering.
ReplyDeleteI've seen "All the President's Men" about 10 times. A few times, Steve told us that it would be different watching it in this setting, with these people and with our new background. I ignored that and just looked at it as spending several hours doing something I've done before and will most likely do again. I had so much to do with the institute and wasn't very excited. My mind was going in so many different directions, none of which were to Watergate.
ReplyDeleteOnce the movie started, I was engrossed in the film. Crazy how much different it was last night. It was like I was watching a whole new movie. I picked up so many more ideas, thoughts and understood so much more. It was a great lesson in context, it really makes a huge difference.
I have shown it to my journalism classes the last two year. Once toward the begging of the year to get the students excited for the possibilities of journalism. The next year I showed it toward the end with the hope they'd appreciate more of the movie. Last night really got me thinking about the context I should show it in and what I could do to make it more relevant to students. The last two years I am not sure they got much out of it. What could I do to give that film more impact to high school students? That's something I'll focus on when planning for it in the future.
Chad Renning
Sandra Day O'Connor High School
Phoenix
Great post Marlo and so thought provoking. Those Gallup numbers are disheartening to say the least. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGood points, Marlo. No matter how many times I see it, I always find this movie inspiring.
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix
Me, too Steve. Still, after the introduction by you and Steve Doig I don't think any of us visiting high school journalism teachers will ever view the film in the same light. You've turned us all into "active viewers." Bravo!
ReplyDelete