Transcript Deep throat: changing the face of American journalism

TAKE OUT A SHEET OF PAPER…
Doing your best to emulate Thompson’s
voice, choose a current event (can be
local, national, global – your choice), and
report on this event using what you know
about Gonzo journalism
You have 8 minutes
CHARACTERIZING GONZO JOURNALISM
How would you characterize Gonzo journalism?
Telling story using scenes rather than historical
narrative as much as possible
Dialogue in full (conversational speech rather
than quotations and statements)
First person point of view
Recording everyday details (details, details
details!)
Style over substance
Irony, sarcasm, hyperbole, exaggeration, etc.
DERBY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What does Thompson mean with his title “The
Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved”?
In the end, does Thompson believe that he
and Steadman are different or similar to the
folks they have come to caricature? How do
you know?
Based on the article, how do you think
Thompson feels about the state of the Union?
LEGACY OF GONZO JOURNALISM
Immersion journalism
 Super Size Me
 “Buy the ticket, take the ride” – Hunter S. Thompson
Do we still see pieces of this kind of
journalism today? Where?
“Objective journalism is one of the main
reasons American politics has been allowed to
be so corrupt for so long. You can’t be objective
about Nixon” -- Thompson
DEEP THROAT:
CHANGING THE FACE OF
AMERICAN JOURNALISM
DEEP THROAT
 Most famous anonymous news source
 The Washington Post’s reliance on Deep Throat
played a role in popularizing the still -controversial
use of anonymous sources in journalism
 Showed what can happen when journalists keep their
word!
 One of many secret sources used but drew attention
because of the sexy nickname
 Would Felt have become such a popular cultural icon if his
moniker were “My Friend”?
 The mystery lasted 33 years!
 Only 5 people knew
Woodward & Bernstein, Washington Post
Woodward and Felt had contact 18 times
during the years from the break-in to
Nixon’s 1974 resignation
Felt & family decided to reveal his
identity in Vanity Fair on May 31, 2005
LASTING JOURNALISTIC LEGACY
The notion that every source deserves a
reporter’s protection, no matter who that
person is (hero or villain)
“This really is an unbreakable contract unless
somebody is dishonest with you” – Woodward,
2005
READ THE VANIT Y FAIR ARTICLE THAT
REVEALS DEEP THROAT
On a separate sheet, answer the following questions:
1. What role did Deep Throat play in Watergate?
2. Why are Woodward and Bernstein keeping his
identity secret?
3. Why did Felt do it (being Deep Throat)?
4. Why keep his identity secret?
5. How was his life impacted?
6. Why reveal his identity?
7. Do you think Woodward and Bernstein exposed
the Watergate scandal to sell papers or
publicize the truth? (Were they muckrakers or
tabloid sensationalizers?)
IN PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW…
In journalism, secret (or
anonymous) sources…
are necessary for democracy to work
undermine democracy