Remember Ben Bradlee
Journalism, Media Arts, Social Studies, U.S. History
Legendary Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee died of natural causes on October 21. He was 93. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein wrote “The Truth-Seeker” and former Washington Post Managing Editor Robert Kaiser wrote “An editor of legendary impact.” They knew him as editor and colleague, as a charismatic and principled leader.
Read and discuss what you learn. Discussion questions would include:
• Find axioms of Ben Bradlee. Select one of them to discuss.
• Bradlee set standards — honest, objective, meticulous reporting. Give examples of reporters who followed these standards. Give examples of reporters who are observing these standards today.
• The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press. Give an example of The Washington Post exercising this freedom.
• What is the significance of the government trying to stop The Washington Post and The New York Times from publishing papers and other information?
• Ben Bradlee made some mistakes as editor. Find examples. What did he fail to do? What lessons do today’s journalists learn from one of these examples?
Read More About Ben Bradlee
Journalism, Media Arts, News Literary, U.S. History
The Washington Post has collected articles, videoes and remembrances at Ben Bradlee | 1921-2014. The role of the editor in making content decisions and the story behind major decisions to publish can be studied through these pieces. What role does an editor have in determining content? In establishing the atmosphere of the newsroom? In setting expections?
Annotate the Craft
English, Journalism, News Literacy, Reading
Some of The Post’s best reporters and editors remembered the editor who influenced them professionally and personally in "The Truth-Seeker," "An editor of legendary impact" and Ben Bradlee | 1921-2014. They take readers behind the scenes, into the newsroom. Review their works for the following. Discuss how each works to complete the picture of a complex individual.
• Quoting from interviews, memoirs and records
• Inclusion of principles
• Anecdotes
• Actions of Ben Bradlee and those around him
• Examples
• Analogies
Develop Vocabulary
English, Journalism, Reading
In the Know is composed of two lists of 20 words each. The terms are found in two Washington Post articles. Before reading each story, review the vocabulary. Students could be asked to locate each word in the story, then define the term as it is used by the writer.
Reread the Editorial Cartoon
Art, English, Journalism, Media Arts
After “reading” Tom Toles’ October 23 editorial cartoon, ask students to discuss what is taking place. Read the visual commentary again with the five questions guiding the review.
Reflect Arfully
Art, English, Journalism, Media Arts
•• In Photographs
Photographs help to convey the story of Ben Bradlee — as an editor, an advocate for the truth and person. Many writers reflected on his big Ben smile, his charisma, his stylish shirts and love of laughter. Dana Priest said “[h]is visits were an instant elixir” as he walked through the national staff.
Review the photographs accompaning “The Truth-Seeker” and “An editor of legendary impact.” What do these images reflect of his personality and interactions? In which of the scenes captured would you like to have been present? Why?
•• Through Collage
"In His Own Words” is illustrated with a college that is based on a photograph. The image is composed of black and white pages of The Washington Post with key words from stores that were published during the editorial leadership of Ben Bradley.
• Is the use of black and white effective? Appropriate?
• After reading reflections on the life of Ben Bradlee, why might spot color have been reflective of his character and editorial style?
• What shirt would you have him wearing?
Select a photograph that is published in this week’s Washington Post. Use it as the basis for a collage. Select words from headlines, articles and captions that reflect the tone, context and facts of the story. Students can create shadows through black markers, black paper or heavy typeface.
•• In an Illustrated Narrative
Michael Cavna, a Washington Post editor and writer of Comic Riffs blog, is a visual storyteller. On October 22 he posted an illustrated tribute to Ben Bradlee. Read “RIP, BEN BRADLEE: Drawing on my favorite conversation with The Post legend.”
Discussion questions might include:
• He refers to being at an event featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman (Maus) the same night that Bradlee passed away. How does he connect the two events?
• Discuss the techniques that Michael Cavna uses in each frame?
• He repeats certain images. Does this work with his storyline?
• How many different time periods are presented in the short narrative? How is this more than “the story of one afternoon”?
• In what ways do the captions and illustrations enchance each other?
•• In Videos
Post TV has a collection of videos from Ben Bradlee’s funeral service, Bradlee interviews, honors and reminisces. Review and listen to selected items from the Playlist.