The quote in the title are the words of J. Edgar Hoover, which he used when commenting on Jack Northman Anderson, a famous American investigative journalist, who epitomised the practices of this branch of journalism with his involvement in cases of corruption, and possible corruption, such as those of Hoover, Richard Nixon (namely the Watergate scandal) and several other key figures. Anderson's aims through investigative journalism were to uphold the law when it had been failed by its own agencies and to unmask corruption in the upper reaches of the highest authorities, thus proving to the world that even the most senior and superior power brokers in capitalist countries can be corrupt. He is considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern investigative journalism.
The trapeze artist profession of investigative journalism is defined, perhaps most conclusively, by the nature of the consequences of its crusader campaigns against dangerously powerful individuals and organisations in society. Anderson himself was the unwitting focus of an abandoned assassination attempt against him, as proposed by members of the Nixon administration, which was spurred on by his increasing involvement in uncovering and publishing the scandalous behaviour and conduct of those listed in association with the then American presidency - this dismissed assassination plan highlights the significance of the exposed Watergate scandal. One invaluable piece of knowledge to extract from cases like Watergate is that people in or with power will not hesitate to discredit or 'delete' those who threaten to disassemble the foundations of that power - be wary not to be blacklisted, as this can put a strain on your career.
The most eminent and momentous case of investigative journalism for the justice of the public, unwavering in the face of innumerable and tiring changes throughout recent history, is that story of a courageous French writer, Émile Zola , who protested against the corruptions of the old judicial system in France, at a time near the turn of the 19th Century, for the acquittal of an innocent man, Alfred Dreyfus. The title of the famous open letter, printed in the newspaper L'Aurore and addressed to the then President of France, reads 'J'accuse', which means 'I accuse' when translated. Zola himself was tried for criminal libel after this article was published, but eventually his innocent, individual cause, Dreyfus, had his criminal conviction revoked and his reputation and career in the army reinstated.
Of all the brave men and women who allow such sacrifice on their behalf in the name of social truth and justice, there cannot be one who does so who deserves being labelled in such terms as Hoover did Anderson. It is true, though, that these investigative journalists pursue their unstable careers with the wisdom of experience, and that they are fully aware of the dangers they put themselves in. One thing is absolutely certain, this is not a job for the faint-hearted.
Here are two helpful links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHBowb0ZAg&feature=related - this is the final segment of a documentary on the Watergate scandal, which features Jack Anderson and notes how he diced with death on occassion with figures like Nixon and his underlings
http://www.cpj.org/ - this website demonstrates one of the ways in which journalists, and those who support them and their cause can identify and defend against the rigours and repressive actions of governments and regimes towards professional journalists who are just doing their jobs
Journalism, especially investigative journalism, and more importantly investigative journalism in developing countries, can be one of the toughest occupational paths for an individual to choose. However, it can also be a very rewarding one. We, as people pro-freedom of expression and pro-truth must acknowledge these daring agents of the fourth estate and provide our defence for them as a mark of respect for the efforts they put into revealing fact in a sea of complexity and contention.
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