Poole Report

Digging Up the Scandal of Watergate with Elemental Tools

2009-11-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole

Hopefully everyone in their right mind pursue truth, but good journalists make the exploration of truth their job. William Goldberg’s film, “All the President’s Men” (1976), stars Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, and paints the journey of uncovering the Watergate scandal.

Carl Bernstein (Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Redford) were both Washington Post journalists in the 1970s. Both had much to do with the original reporting and investigating of the Watergate scandal.

Goldberg’s film shares the true story of the process the journalist underwent to uncover truth and report it to the public. The two reporters practice the fundamentals of the journalistic code drawn out by authors Kovach and Rosenthal in their book The Elements of Journalism.

The lessons in The Elements of Journalism seem to transcend time. They were just as applicable in the 70s, and before, as they are in present time. Though, perhaps they have been use more or less in different eras of journalism.

Bernstein and Woodward are driving by revealing truth to society, the first obligation of journalism. Through mockery, doubt, and danger, the two reports persevere for the common good of the people.

Verification, they realized, coincides with reporting truth. Bernstein and Woodward understand that they cannot use what they want because they find it agreeable; the two journalists endeavor to see if what they find is agreeable with truth.

Bernstein and Woodward struggled to find people to go on the record or to find reliable sources to use; but they agreed that if they were going to uncover the truth and report it, they had to work hard to be men of integrity.

It wasn’t only them who believed in verification of sources, Ben Bradlee, their editor strained that it was necessary. Bradlee kept them in check multiple times, making sure they had things right.

In the end, their story was printed, but only after serious consideration and verification was the Watergate scandal made known. Above all else, their goal was to make sure what they were reporting was the truth.

The Elements of Journalism in 'A Minute Before Friday'

2009-11-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole

Jonna Lightfoot, a character from Jo Kadlecek novel, A Minute Before Friday, is a depiction of a journalist who displays the journalistic code of ethics or elements of journalism.

Throughout the story Lightfoot strives to find the truth behind Regal’s utilization of Christian scholarship funds. Even after a lot of hard work and after a print refusal, she sticks to her wits and struggles to make the truth known.

Lightfoot reminds herself that she must first be loyal to the public, the citizens, rather than be subdued by her boss. When her boss tells her people wont care to read it, she tells herself people will care. While her boss views the readers as customers, Lightfoot sees them as humans needing truth.

While people like Walter Wood mainly focus on the sales of newspapers, Lightfoot focuses on reporting truth, not just a trendy story. She soon leaves the Clarion paper and travels east.

Wherever Lightfoot goes she makes sure to verify her sources, but this all comes back to reporting truth to the citizens.

Elements of Journalism Displayed in 'Good Night and Good Luck'

2009-11-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole

Director George Clooney chose to display the elements of journalism in his movie 'Good Night and Good Luck' (2005) when he told the story about journalist Edward R. Murrow and his team of CBS reporters. They worked hard to expose the indecency of Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist craze or Red Scare.

Communism spread panic around the United States in the 1950s and Wisconsin Senator McCarthy didn’t help anyone calm down about it. In fact, he used tactics to make it worse. Anyone in opposition to McCarthy would be blacklisted and charged a communist.

In The Elements of Journalism, Kovach and Rosenstiel seek to reveal journalism’s ethical code. Murrow did everything he could to use truth and loyalty to citizens to oppose McCarthy. He risked being called a communist himself while he dug into McCarthy’s past and used what he found to question McCarthy and report to the public.

Murrow wished to reveal truth, by first pursuing truth. He felt a responsibility to expose McCarthy’s false assertions. Murrow’s desire was to be a ‘voice to the voiceless.’

Murrow didn’t give up against McCarthy. He wouldn’t stand for injustice, even when other journalists feared the Senator and backed off. They feared of what might happen to them if they also chose to strive for and deliver truth to the public.

Murrow eventually uncovered McCarthy’s intentions using the elements of journalism.

GNGC: GLOBAL NOMADS of GORDON COLLEGE

2009-11-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole

When asked, Kiwa Takatsu, ’11, art major, can’t just pick one home. She shrugs. Japan? Nepal? India? Although Japanese by nationality, Takatsu grew up in all three Asian countries and before answering she must first contemplate.

“Where are you from?” What seems like a straightforward question is anything but when asking a ‘global nomad.’ Most will meet the question will a pause of silent consideration. How would this ‘simple’ question ever be met with query? Perhaps this individual lost home or misplaced it.

Anthropologist Norma McCaig coined the term ‘Global nomad’ in 1984, and sociologist Dr. Ruth Hill Useem coined the term ‘third culture kid’ (TCK) in 1963; both refer to a person who has spent a significant part of her or his developmental years outside their parents’ culture.

McCaig and Useem were both American expatriates who grew up around the world and raised families outside of the U.S. Both have since passed away, but their work has been significant for many TCKs.

The reentry process is but one of many ordeals of the TCK subculture. “If I go back [to South Korea] it’ll be different,” said Katie Han, ’12, biology major. “People my age won’t be able to relate to me.”

Han moved from Korea to Leonia, NJ, when she was 12 years old. She speaks Korean fluently, but spending so much of her life in the United States, outside her parents’ culture, makes her a TCK.

Many TCKs perceive their experience as beneficial. “You see that there are different ways of thinking, not just one,” said Inn Gee Kim, ’12, double major of political studies and philosophy. “You get the chance to learn more languages and you obtain perspectives that not many of kids get.”

“Benefit-wise, I gained an attitude and an understanding unlike my U.S. peers, as a result of the exposure to other cultures,” said Rini Cobbey, Associate Professor of Communication Arts. “I had, from an early age, exposure to how diverse the world is. It helps my creativity.”

Professor Cobbey was born in Vietnam and grew up there and in the Philippines. “At the time my peers were being exposed to U.S. pop-culture in the States, I was being exposed of other pop-cultures.”

That’s not always easy though. Some struggle with balancing tradition with new ideas and customs. “It’s difficult to see your parents raise kids who are going to be radically different from them or enticed to think differently,” said Kim, who grew up in the Philippines. Although a neighboring nation, it’s culturally worlds apart from South Korea, his country of nationality.

It’s not only difficult for parents. “It's inevitable that you will feel alienated from the peers of your original culture,” said Kim. “Because friendship lies in the factor of ease and comfort. Having different ideals takes that ease away.”

Very often, TCKs leave what they begin to consider home at a young age, a process many don’t experience until the collegiate adventure. They must leave their houses, their friends, favorite foods, along with an entire culture, and start anew somewhere else.

“To leave will indeed be bittersweet,” said Sam Taylor, current 16-year-old American TCK. “It's a kind of conundrum, because the closer I get to South Africa, the more I'll miss it. But I guess my goal has always been to miss it.”

TCKs grow to understand distinctive places, diverse cultures, and atypical ideologies. "Global nomads are very good mediators," wrote McCaig in a journal during her field research. "Whenever TCKs move into another culture, they become very good, objective observers."

They're like cultural sponges," said McCaig. "Those skills translate into ideal requirements for combating racism and advancing social and refugee work." And unfortunately, this seems to be just what the world needs.

“From TCKs we can learn creativity, flexibility, and sensitivity,” said Cobbey.

Perhaps you’ll notice who the global nomads are when you ask, “Where are you from?” TCKs often hold distinct ideologies that may be healthy to listen to and consider.

“The nature and role of national or cultural identification and loyalty,” said Cobbey, “Come into view [for TCKs] in ways that people growing up in one place, with one defined citizenship and culture, may never have recognized before.”

“When we have a chance to interact with someone who has formed a sort of third culture of identification,” said Cobbey, “We can start to think about our own previously unconsidered loyalties and assumptions.”

Jazzing Up Gordon College’s Homecoming

2009-11-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole and Jessica De Vivo

The Gordon College jazz ensemble, the Coy Pond Piranhas, performed at the Philips Music Center courtyard on the evening of Homecoming, Saturday, October 10. Conducted by music professor David Rox, the band featured student, alumni and community musicians. Alumni, faculty, students, and parents still ventured out to experience “all that jazz,” despite the chilly, fall weather.
The finger-snapping music included the hit number, “Night and Day,” featuring the voice of Evangelyna Etienne ’12, music education major from Saugus, MA. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Etienne, “you get to work with the whole band.” Most of the pieces, however, were purely instrumental and included, “Have You Met Miss Jones,” “Big John’s Special,” and “La Suerte de Los Tantos.”

Between 170-175 audience members attended the performance. Many found the “feel-good” music and laid-back atmosphere enjoyable. “I could sit out here for hours,” said Karen Curran, parent of a Gordon student. “I’m just amazed at how professional they sound.”

Seeing journalism in "Eyes on the Prize"

2009-11-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

By Jesse Poole

The film document, "Eyes on the Prize", really brought home the fact that the United States was just a couple decades ahead of South Africa in ending something so horrific. In the pieced together film clips you see many journalists in background scenes writing in reporter notebooks and taking photos of significant happenings.

The elements of journalism shined through this film document extraordinarily. Truth dominantly stood out in the relaying of history. The filmmakers did not hide the hideousness of what the whites did to the the blacks. The film was eye opening. It certainly served and still serves the citizen-viewer. It shows truth in the verification of interviews, showing both perspectives, black and white.

The film was extremely significant to our history, however horrible the acts were.

Newcomers: Michelle Lee Travels from Singapore to Study Psychology

2009-09-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

By Jesse Poole

Singaporean by nationality, freshman psychology major Michelle Lee has lived most of her years in Tianjin, China. “People over here ask, ‘is Singapore a city in China?’” Lee said. “It makes me want to say, ‘I’m from Asia’ instead.”

“In an international school, in the context of so many different cultures you learn so much,” Lee said. “It’s not just about the language, but it’s about the people. You integrate it [multicultural experience] into your own culture. I think it’s something a lot of people miss out on.”

“I wanted to go to a Christian college and study Psychology in the States,” Lee said. “Singapore doesn’t have any Christian colleges and the States offer a good education.” Lee learned about Gordon College through her friend, Amy Yim, ’11, education major at Gordon.

“I really miss Singapore food,” Lee said. “They have ‘Asian night’ in Gillies, it’s not Asian . . . But I like how people here help you and everyone here is really nice.”

Zinsser’s 30-year-old book on writing still speaks to modern writers

2009-09-11T06:01:00.001-07:00

By Jesse Poole

Although first published in 1976, William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well is still surprisingly applicable for writers today. “The need for journalism is constant and the need for good writing won’t change,” said Alison Lynch, ’12, communication arts major form Holliston, MA.

A young writer might think instructions on writing from the ‘70’s would be hard to follow, but “It’s fast and captures the audience,” said Steven Fletcher, ’12, a Communication Arts major from Augusta, ME. “He teaches how to write for more than just a blog, his writing is not instant, and Zinsser shows we’ve got to go back and enjoy playing with the words.”

According to Zinsser many writers feel the need to use ‘difficult’ language, but “writing does not need to be an impenetrable fog,” said Fletcher. “It needs to be clear, concise, and inviting, and this is what Zinsser teaches.”

Heather Lobe, ’10, theatre major from Erial, NJ, said, “Books jam-packed with theories make reading dry and hard to understand. Zinsser practices what he preaches; he’s straight to the point.”

Fletcher went on to say that Zinsser speaks to nonfiction writers especially, “and is a book that teaches the art of the simple,” said Fletcher. “He advocates writing without fluff.”

“I like what Zinsser says about ‘clutter’,” said Lynch. “I do add a lot of words because I’m use to creative writing.” But, “Clutter is the disease of American writing,” writes Zinsser. “We are a society strangling in unnecessary words.”

“Zinsser tells specific examples of things that do and do not work,” said Lobe. And according to Fletcher, “the advice Zinsser relays is timeless.”

Gordon Students Mixed About Online Journalism

2009-09-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

By Jesse Poole

Will the switch from paper to Web attract or repel Gordon College Tartan readers? Many things in today’s world transfigure to the Internet and our Tartan is now no exception.

This decision was not made based on student vote; but decisions such as, ‘big savings’ in the elimination of a physical paper. Also, many students access the Internet on a daily basis, almost reassuring Tartan staff that they will make a click for the Tartan.

Sophomore Rachel Bell, international student from Zimbabwe and Pike Scholar in International Development, has written for the Tartan three times previous to this new semester. Her articles include the subjects of homecoming weekend, a piece on saving gas by way of electric scooter, and on a student masquerading around campus as Joker from Batman. On the subject of the Tartan going ‘Webward’, she said, “I think it is good that it saves paper, but I think less people will read and access it.”

Bell raised concerns that it will not have the same effect on the readers than that of an actual paper. “People can’t pick it up like a traditional newspaper.” The new Tartan will not have the professional and cultural attraction that it once did; it may appear more as a simple blog-site.

Sophomore Steven Fletcher, Communication Arts major, says, he has his reservations. "It may allow us to have a lot more possibilities, but it loses its essence as a newspaper," he said. "I’d rather have print media.”

Salem State’s newspaper is going online, but they are also keeping a paper. Gordon students may have embraced such an similar idea if it were an option.

Either way it contains news and news is important because it sheds “light on issues,” says theater major, Heather Lobe. Besides, Tartan Faculty Advisor, Eric Convey, says, “Now your parents can see your articles easily” and there is no need to mail them a cut–out copy.