According to Lippmann, usually, a series of occasions have to become noticeable in some more or less explicit act. Therefore, we find Woodward and Bernstein precisely anticipating, debating and choosing who they interview, why they are or aren’t the right selection, how to go about it prior to publishing any of their stories. Their investigation into the Watergate scandal, reflects very well their use of sources and general epistemology, despite several challenges. Showing their careful exploitation and selection of sources, Bernstein and Woodward perfectly defined how they would get the most correct and insightful information for their stories.
Most of the times, they followed the advice of Roy Peter Clark, when they were publishing stories with accurate information - “Never put something in print or on the air that hasn’t checked out…taking time allows for checking for coverage that is proportional, for consultation and for sound decision-making that, in the long run, will avoid embarrassing mistakes and clumsy reactions” (219). Likewise, at some point, Bernstein contacted more than 40 people – Senators, members of the Watergate committee staff, lawyers, CRP and Whitehouse sources, Justice Department officials, friends of McCord and even the minister, to verify the accuracy of McCord’s opinions regarding advance knowledge of the Watergate bugging operation.
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Bernstein sought a diversity of channels to many details from many sources to boost his confidence and establish credibility of said statements. They showed patience and cautiousness in reporting Sloan’s story of the non-existence of the secret Watergate fund. They carried out an investigation where they learnt that the Watergate fund was still in operation and was specifically used to pay for the silence of the seven defendants. Lastly, Woodward and Bernstein wanted to publish about Dean’s allegations of the President’s involvement in the $1 million cover-up cost, only to realize two weeks later that Howard Hunt had blackmailed the White House.
