Written as a Staff Report
Fifty years have passed since former Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal along with his colleague Bob Woodward, setting the standard for investigative journalism. Yet, he remains a powerful voice in the American political arena, as a renowned author, cable news commentator and public speaker.
On Dec. 1, the legendary journalist will bring his wealth of experience to Southern Adventist University as the inaugural speaker for a new lecture series launched by the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC). He will speak on the topic: “Why Truth Still Matters.”
Alison Lebovitz, host of the local PBS show, “The A-List with Alison Lebovitz,” will serve as moderator.
The SJC created the R. Lynn Sauls Lecture Series in honor of former SJC dean Lynn Sauls, who guided the school through unprecedented expansion and development from 1989 to the mid-1990s. Under Sauls’ leadership, the SJC established a permanent home in Brock Hall, prioritized the importance of writing in the curriculum and developed a network connecting students with journalism and communication professionals.
SJC Dean Rachel Williams-Smith said the lecture series will be an annual event featuring prominent speakers in the fields of journalism and communication. This year, she is excited about bringing Bernstein to campus.
“I am thrilled that Mr. Bernstein accepted our invitation to come,” she said. “We can learn much from history. And, on Dec. 1, we will have history standing before us. Furthermore, his topic is very timely and should be especially meaningful to all who have been taught the value of searching out and treasuring truth.”
Bernstein, a native of Washington, D.C., began his journalism career at age 16 as a copyboy for the Washington Evening Star, according to his professional bio. In addition to uncovering the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, Bernstein has written books.
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Bernstein co-wrote “All the President’s Men,” a book that became the basis for a film with the same title, chronicling Woodward’s and Bernstein’s coverage of the Watergate scandal. Bernstein’s most recent book, published in 2022, is a memoir, titled “Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom.”
“It’s not every day that you get to meet and listen to a living legend,” Williams-Smith said. “So, it is my hope that this will prove to be a memorable occasion for Southern’s students and members of the surrounding community.”
