All the President's Men

All the President’s Men shows why original investigative reporting is so important. Woodward and Bernstein uncover and document activities that had been previously unknown to the public. By paying careful attention to every detail, Woodward uncovered one of the biggest breaches in government policy. By attending the arraignment for the burglars and then realizing a top lawyer was representing them Woodward started to put the pieces together. His suspicion grew as he realized that each person was a member of the CIA. Eventually such meticulous reporting led to the resignation of President Nixon. Through investigation, Woodward and Bernstein were able to act as watchdogs over the most powerful of society. Because of journalists, we remain a free democracy.  

Foreign student’s faith challenged but remains strong at Christian college

By Stuart Knechtle

Wenham MA—Chris Samuel 18, a freshman biblical studies major, first came to America with a desire to see how American religions differed from the religions he experienced all his life in Bangalore, India. At Gordon College, a Christian liberal arts school, he would get a much better understanding of such religious diversity.

One of the first differences he noticed was how the terms Christian and Catholic were used synonymously in the U.S. “In India, Catholics aren’t even considered Christians and Christians aren’t considered Catholics. Here, it seems like everyone is considered Christian,” he said. Samuel is like many international students who come to campus with certain expectations and find them immediately challenged. “Here, I don’t understand why there are so many denominations. Why can’t people just be Christian instead of Episcopal, Baptist or Protestant? I don’t even know what Episcopal is. Shouldn’t we as Christians all be of one denomination anyway?”

Unlike those students who immigrate to the U.S. from another country and have their faith expectations immediately challenged when coming to Gordon, those students who come to Gordon from somewhere in the U.S. see more of their expectations met.    

“I expected my faith to grow tremendously when I came to Gordon. And that’s exactly what it did,” said Andrew Pottorf, 18, a junior biblical studies and German double major, who is from New Jersey.

All his life, Samuel has been an advocate for the Christian faith. But, in India he found sharing his faith very difficult. “Muslims came to my door once with clubs. They wanted to take all the Christian assets we had from my dad’s Christian organization.” Fortunately for Samuel, his family had a friend who was head of the state of police who was a Christian. All of the Muslims in his area were targeting Christian land and they were lucky enough to have that relationship.

“Eventually my dad, who was the director of this Christian organization, had to sell off this land because of the Muslims. Things could have been much worse than that though. Once he was attacked on the street by Muslims, and fortunately policemen were close by and saw the fighting. If they had not been there he could have easily been killed.” 

One of the biggest differences Samuel has experienced when it comes to living out his faith here in the U.S. is that he hasn’t felt the kind of heavy persecution that he felt on a regular basis in India. This has been detrimental to his faith. 

“In school in India there was constant opposition which made my faith stronger. Here, everyone claims to be of the same faith. You are not of your own accord here.” Samuel has found that strangely very few people in America talk about Christianity. Especially at a Christian college he says he expected many more Christians to talk about their beliefs on a more regular basis. 

“In India I got to talk about my faith almost every other day freely to mainly non-Christians, but I knew there would be sharp opposition. I was known as a Jesus freak.” Samuel said that many people hated that he brought up Christianity and told him that it was a fake religion. “Hindus believe Christians actually have something wrong with them. They can’t understand why Christians have such a weird urge to help people.”

Paul Borthwick, 56, a biblical studies and Christian ministries professor at Gordon said that in India there is heavy religious pride. “Many believe that to be Indian is to be Hindu” said Borthwick. “There are many Hindu nationalist groups.”

Borthwick said that in India, the culture and religions are predominately community oriented. He said that this is vastly different from the U.S. which is often about individualism. “If a Christian wants to become a Hindu or an atheist or anything else, he often doesn’t have to give much up. If a Hindu wants to become a Christian, he most likely will have to give up his family and entire community.” In Hinduism and Buddhism, Borthwick said, there is a heavy syncretism which is the blending of beliefs. Christianity differs in that it claims that Jesus Christ is the only way. 

Both Samuels and Borthwick believe that Christianity differs from other eastern religions in simply the character of Jesus Christ. “The Jesus who we believe walked our pathway and died for our sins," Borthwick said. "No other religion comes close to making a claim like Christianity.” 

Washington D.C.

Stuart Knechtle

            Washington D.C. was an experience I will never forget. The Newseum included everything I could possibly want in one building. From having to wake up at 3a.m, to seeing the door that exposed Watergate, I felt like I was experiencing a day in the life of a journalist. When I listened to two men discussing politics and journalism, one who worked beside Henry Kissinger and the other who was a reporter for the L.A. Times, I began to think harder about the issues. Not only do we have a tremendous obligation to uncover the truth, but we also have an obligation to present such truth to each and every citizen. The biggest thing I took away from that day was that it is a journalist’s job to get the truth and by presenting such truth, hopefully justice will be granted to all.  

Gordon students receive wealth of knowledge from local writers

By Stuart Knechtle

Wenham, MA—Last Thursday, Gordon College students got a chance to learn from some of the best in the area when Salem News’ own, Dave Olson and Muriel Hoffacker, came to lecture in a journalism classroom.

Dan MacAlpine Visits Gordon

By Stuart Knechtle

Wenham, MA—When Dan MacAlpine came to Gordon on Thursday he brought with him a lifetime of experience to share with journalism students. His main objective was exhorting the students to use clear and concise language that could pull an audience in, instead of putting them to sleep.  

Peace In The Midst Of Conflict

Stuart Knechtle

            During the 1960s to be a black citizen in the U.S. took courage and an understanding that God wrote the law, no county or government. The legislated law at that time said that if your skin color was darker than white, there were many things you could not do. Today it is unfathomable to think that just a few decades ago you could be jailed for not sticking within the parameters that your race was assigned to here in the U.S. Change would need to be made, and it would come from the unlikeliest of activists. Young adults in their early 20s or teens (many even younger) stood up to the mainly older white, racist authority that sought to suppress the entire race.

            Similarly to how communism fell in the 1980s in Europe and at Tiananmen Square, apartheid also would crumble in South Africa due to young men and women taking a stand. Those in Birmingham Alabama started this dauntless trend that became contagious. The first day the fire hoses, dogs, and clubs came pouring down on these activists in Birmingham, a masterpiece for media was created. In one block you could witness the horror of white, racist bigotry towards the nonviolent young blacks that would fill up newspapers across the country. This incredible stand for peace in the midst of violent hate would wake people up to what was going on around them. Although Martin Luther King Jr. only saw signs of the “promised land” he predicted his people would enter even though there was a good chance he would not be going with them.

Gordon College Alumni Offer Advice to Next Generation

By Stuart Knechtle

Wenham, MA—Students at Gordon College flocked to try and hear words of wisdom imparted by successful alumni this past weekend. Mariwyn Light, a Communications Major from the class of ’09, spoke to a journalism class at Gordon about the drug wars in Mexico and how Americans’ addictive natures are fueling the entire volatile situation there. “Now that I am at grad school in El Paso Texas, I see how much Gordon helped me in my writing to set me up so I can help change this situation” she said, “but journalism and writing will also help you in whatever field you go into.” She encouraged the class to write as often as they could and seek advice from the talented professors at Gordon.

John Phelps, a 2008 Communication Arts major, had spoken a week before Marilyn. He stressed the importance of writing for either a local paper or applying for an internship that could help jump start a possible career. He pushed the students to work hard because “once you enter the real world things only get more competitive and you begin to see that a good night’s sleep is very tough to come by.” Phelps’ exhortation to work hard seems to be a model that each of the alumni live by.   

Trevor Peterson was another grad who was on Gordon’s campus this past weekend. He was a standout student athlete when he was at Gordon College as he received all conference honors in lacrosse and graduated with honors in the field of Economics in 2008. “Gordon helped me understand critically what my faith was and should be” he said, “I would encourage any current student to join some kind of ministry that he or she could attend with consistency.” Peterson said that Gordon helped nourish and groom his faith as it set him up for the deep growth he experiences now.

Peterson also spoke about the importance of having a diverse group of friends when you are at college so you can see life from different perspectives. By finding the right group of people at Gordon they can help you “get involved with something deep so you can see where your gifts and talents really lie” Peterson said.  

International Day of Peace Inspires Hope Everywhere

By Stuart Knechtle

            Wenham, MA—What if you could free those who are utterly stifled by fear? The International Day of Peace is part of a growing effort to do just that. Gordon College celebrated September 21^st, the day that was declared by the U.N. to honor and respect peace everywhere. Throughout the day there were talks given by people such as Dr. David Steele to help Gordon students get a better understanding of what the day stands for and how we can help promote peace everywhere.

            A movie was played at the end of the celebration called Little town of Bethlehem. In the movie we see Palestinian and Israeli citizens trying to bridge the chasm that has separated the two ethnic groups for so long. “The movie pulled in interesting facts that most people who knew a little about the situation didn’t fully know about yet” said Stephanie Goethner a senior communication arts major. Dr. David Steele said that by learning more about the situation we will become more hopeful for the future.

Good Night, and Good Luck (practicing ethical journalism)

When I watched the movie Good Night and Good Luck, I saw the assiduous efforts of honest reporters present their audience with news that they needed to know. Edward R. Murrow lead the way as he put his job on the line in order to remain faithful to the truth. Even though he would eventually be demoted to Sunday afternoon show time (in which he chose to leave CBS instead of report on Sundays) he left an indelible mark on his viewers because he did not see the ends of his reporting justifying the means.
Edward R. Murrow was able to leave CBS with a clear conscience and a dignity that was built on “being loyal to the audience.” Instead of being agenda driven, and having a political bias, he took the hard way out and reported the news that every reporter was too timid to report. Even when Murrow’s boss said, “We don’t make the news Ed, we report on the news,” Murrow knew that although this was true, it is also the reporters duty and obligation to report all of the facts to his audience in order to let the audience decide on the matters themselves.
In Elements of Journalism we read about comprehensiveness and the importance of not leaving out important details. Murrow did just that as he uncovered Joseph Mcarthy’s ploy to slander against those who he accused as communists. In Murrow’s farewell speech he talked about journalism as an instrument that shouldn’t be used to simply entertain but that it should teach and inspire. He went on to say that this can only be done though “when people have the determination to use it towards those ends, otherwise it is only wires and a box.”

Christopher Samuel Finds New Opportunities at Gordon College

By Stuart Knechtle

            Wenham, MA—When Christopher Samuel received his letter of acceptance to Gordon College, a lifetime of dreams had finally been fulfilled. Samuel, 18, a freshman Biblical Studies Major, was the third in line behind his grandfather and father to migrate over to the U.S. from Bangalore, India. Just like his grandfather and father, ever since Christopher was a young boy he had aspirations of getting a fine Christian education in the U.S. so he could help spread the gospel throughout his homeland.

“Although I had never seen Gordon before, my dad had taught at Gordon-Conwell and Gordon scholars had come to my house for missions work when I was younger. We became close friends and I learned much about what it would be like to go to Gordon College.”

Upon arriving to Gordon, he immediately saw cultural differences. He could not believe when he saw a Gordon student acting chummy with his dad. Samuel said that this would’ve definitely been seen as a major sign of disrespect if it was done in India. “Never in my life have I even hinted jokingly at calling my dad by his first name.”

Samuel already has a reputation around campus for having flawless dance moves and a superb talent for cooking Indian food. “I saw him try out for Sweaty Tooth and even though he didn’t know any particular moves, he tore up the dance floor. He also makes the best Indian food I have ever had even though it leaves quite the scent around here” said freshman sweet mate Luke Miller, 18.

Samuel has also been immersing himself in extracurricular activities around campus. “It was nice seeing Chris, not only as a freshman but also as an international student, getting involved with the student body. It was the first meeting for the Idiom to see who was interested in working on this semester’s first publication” said senior Christian Brink, 21, an English Major at Gordon College. Samuel looks forward to getting involved even more at Gordon in the future.

Jody Hassett Sanchez on Journalism

Stuart Knechtle
I was lucky enough to listen three times to Jody Hassett Sanchez when she came to Gordon last week and it didn’t take long for me to understand why she has had such a successful career as a journalist. One of the very first points she made during her talk on Thursday was giving people news that hits them directly in the heart. Films or stories like this make people want to move away from passivity towards action. She said that this takes “compelling characters and good stories.” She went on to say that you can’t just stop there though, but that you also have to help your reader or audience feel like they are relating to the characters. Specifically, she said that in her film she wanted her viewers to meet the children, not simply give them an idea or statistic about them. This point ran right alongside her starting point on Friday when she said, “How do you show faith in Journalism and not just talk about it?” She was sounding the call for us as Christian journalists to get out there and make things happen by living out what we believe. Sanchez said that even though our news universe has splintered through decentralization, we as journalists can still make a difference for good if we keep God as our boss and never feel like we should assume his position by judging others.

Classic Book Remains Relevant For Mojos

By Stuart Knechtle


Wenham, MA—“I think that Zinsser encourages us to keep on going when the going gets tough. He makes us realize what the words are that we use and why we use them” said Alyssa Maine, 21. It has been almost 35 years since William Zinsser wrote his book On Writing Well, yet his magnificent piece remains germane to journalists who are looking to improve their writing. Zinsser’s piece draws in the reader early on by making an appeal to humanity and warmth when chasing down a story.

“Good writing has an aliveness that keeps the reader reading from one paragraph to the next, and it’s not a question of gimmicks to “personalize” the author. It’s a question of using the English language in a way that will achieve the greatest clarity and strength” Zinsser says in his first chapter.

This kind of advice that Zinsser gives is a fresh way of understanding for writers in today’s multifaceted media world. With our technologically invaded world, Zinsser calls us back to writing in its most rudimentary form. This kind of writing, he says, is how we draw our audience in and keep them.

“I really liked how blunt he was in telling us how to be good journalists […] I can easily apply that and become a better journalist” said Angela Rodriguez, 20. Above all, Zinsser practices what he preaches and gives it to the reader straight.

Rodriguez summed up what Zinsser does for most journalists, which is to give them a way to become better writers without dancing around the issue. In his book, he talks about simplifying your work in order to make things easier on your reader. In doing so, your audience won’t become distracted and start to daydream.

He also talks about being yourself in a piece and not sounding differently just because you have picked up a piece of paper and pen. He calls us to be ourselves and in doing so we should be writing about things we, as writers, are interested in.

Gordon Community informed by variety of news sources

By Stuart Knechtle

Wenham MA- When Gordon College student, Alyssa Baker, was sitting in class one day; she saw one of her classmates on BBCNews.com. Ever since her early teens, Baker had received her news from news sources that were nationally focused. It was rare for her to even see news articles that approached topics in other counties. In astonishment, she watched her classmate browse stories that were all based in many countries around the world. Baker’s next move reshaped the way she would receive her news for years and years to come.

           From that day on, Baker began getting her news from BBCNews.com. Even when she searched the news on television Baker would always turn to the BBC News Channel.

        Baker said, “I had always felt a kind of guilt over the kind of news I received. When I would get my news from other news sources, I would only be updated on news that was occurring in the U.S. But, fortunately BBC News helped me get news outside of my own country.”

         Dan Castelline of Concord, Mass. was another student who had this similar feeling before he had made the switch to BBC News. “I used to watch my local news channel for all my news. If I didn’t get my news that way, I would just use whatever site popped up on my homepage to get my news. I drew a much wider knowledge of news once I read BBC. Not only is it well organized, but it allows you to be internationally literate and understand culture outside of your own.”

         Baker and Castelline strum a similar tune as they both have now changed from old news sources that were nationally focused, to BBC News, which is internationally focused. They both appealed to a similar feeling of knowledge that was circumscribed to only their own countries. Baker even went as far as to say that she felt a type of guilt over this. This guilt was formed by her previous news sources that built up an ethnocentric attitude that she formed over the years. Now that she is getting international news and updates though, she feels well cultured and guilt free. Both Castelline and Baxter both feel well updated and in tuned to not only their own cultures, but also the entire world around them.