CONTACT:
Karyn Nishimura Sneath, SPJ Director of Education, 317-920-4791, ksneath@spj.org
Zoë Berg, SPJ Communications Specialist, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — On the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, join legendary reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein at MediaFest22 as they discuss the famous investigative story, how they broke it and its lasting impact on journalism.

MediaFest22 is the Society of Professional Journalists annual convention in partnership with the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association. It will be held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30.

“What a privilege and an honor it will be to welcome two of America’s greatest investigative journalists to our convention,” said SPJ President-elect Claire Regan, who will be moderating the discussion. “I look forward to hearing their perspectives on Watergate 50 years after the historic break-in, on the current political climate and on the state of the journalism industry. They are sure to inspire college students, working journalists and everyone else who shares a passion for our profession.”

Few journalists have impacted American history like Woodward and Bernstein. In 1973, they were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their Watergate coverage at The Washington Post, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and setting new standards for investigative journalism. The pair went on to write two classic bestsellers — “All the President’s Men” (also a movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) and “The Final Days,” chronicling the end of the Nixon presidency.

Bob Woodward is an associate editor of The Washington Post, where he has worked for 50 years. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes — first in 1973 for the coverage of the Watergate scandal and second in 2002 as the lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored or co-authored 21 books, all national bestsellers. The last three on the Trump presidency: “Fear” (2018), “Rage” (2020) and “Peril” (2021) all were No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Another 12 of his books have been New York Times No. 1 bestsellers.

Carl Bernstein is a prolific author, writing about national and international affairs for half a century in books, reporting and commentary that has revealed the hidden workings of government and politics around the world. His magazine articles have appeared in Time, USA Today, Rolling Stone and The New Republic. From 1999-2001, Bernstein served as editor and executive vice president of Voter.com, a pioneering website that Forbes named the best political site on the internet. He has worked as Washington bureau chief and correspondent for ABC News; and, while at the Washington Post, was also a part-time rock critic.

For more than 45 years, Woodward and Bernstein’s collective works have focused on the enduring themes of Watergate: secret government, abuses of power and the role of the press. Now they will join on the speaking stage to point out parallels from our past and provide unparalleled insights for our future — pulling back the curtain on Washington as only Woodward and Bernstein can.

They will speak at the keynote address, moderated by Regan, on Oct. 28, the second day of the convention. Registration for MediaFest22 is open. View rates and keep an eye on the schedule as more sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund or give to the SPJ Foundation.

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