If nothing else, Bernstein and Woodward were persistent with finding all the information they needed to support their story. One of the difficulties they faced when writing their article was getting the appropriate people to give information on the issue. The two would often find the people who had the information, but they would not be able get their source to speak on the subject. To take it further, when they did find people who wanted to speak on the topic, they would often refuse to go on the record or release their name as a source to the story. When a source asks a reporter to have their name confidential, and the reporter has done all he can to convince the source to go on the record, than the reporter is obligated to obey the sources wishes. However, it does not mean the reporter has to use that person as a source. He can use the information he has learned and try to find a source that is willing to go on the record to verify the facts. When a reporter uses a off the record source, he runs the risk of publishing false information and public doubt. It could lead to audience members doubting the reporter’s credibility, and it makes it easier for the subject of the story to deny all claims because no real person actually said the dismissing words. What really worked for Woodward and Bernstein was they were as charismatic as they were obnoxiously persistent. They followed every lead, kept in contact with every source, and used their connections and resources to get them the information they needed. They also were cautious and made sure they could verify the all major concerning parts of their story before running it to make sure all their information was credible. Woodward and Bernstein had some moments that highlighted the ethics enforced by SPJ and others in which they strayed away from the ethical path. One example of what they did right was taking responsibility for the accuracy of their work. They fought hard to make sure they were not misquoting or misrepresenting. After the backlash occurred after they turned their first full front page story covering the Watergate scandal and the spokesman said that The Washington Post was completely inaccurate, the duo went back and verified all their information even with their unnamed sources like Deep Throat and Sloan to confirm that there was not reason to retract the story. Another example, would be when Woodward gave Mitchell the chance to give his side of the story before they published an article naming him as one of the leaders in the scandal. Woodward and Bernstein were a little shady in some points in how they got their information. From making fake phone calls to get into sources offices to tricking a source to reveal more information than initially planned, they had unethical was about getting the information they needed. Also they way they did not identify sources caused a bit of an ethical dilemma. It really isn’t fair to both the accused and the audience that the people who are calling them out are not named, and
