Q&A With Lowell Bergman

During our research, we discovered that Lowell Bergman's contact info was available on the glorious World Wide Web, on the website of the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.  We had the crazy idea that we should just email him (go figure) and ask him a few questions that had been floating around in our brains.  Not wanting to seem like giddy schoolkids, we explained that we were journalism students from Utah State University doing a project about The Insider and journalistic ethics and that we would appreciate any insight he would be willing to give us.  We tried to avoid asking questions that he had previously answered in other interviews.  Much to our surprise, Professor Bergman replied to our request in a mere two and a half hours.  He noted that answering our questions would take a good deal of time, but he was still able to give us a few short answers.  Our "interview", in its entirety, can be found below:


How would you define the role of investigative journalists? Do you feel there is been a shift in that role since your time at CBS? If so, describe.

Investigative journalism is a form of public interest reporting that is a "Public Good". Its not something that you pay for. Its purpose is to help society. Right wrongs. Afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.

The role has not really changed since I left CBS. If anything there is more of it going on, not in major newspapers, there are fewer of them now. But there is a lot more going on online and in nonprofit investigative reporting groups that have proliferated around the world. 

Is self-censorship ever appropriate within a news organization?

Its always nearly impossible to cover yourself. I can understand doing that. But there is self censorship in television news in particular when it effects interest groups, billionaires and multi national corporations because the consequences could negatively effect the careers of the executives involved and the future of the program.

It is not explained in The Insider the (sic) CBS's owners, the Tisch family, owned Lorillard Tobacco. The President, James Tisch, is one of the "Seven Dwarfs" swearing nicotine isn't addictive. At the time there was a federal grand jury investigation of the seven for perjury before congress. Wigand was likely to be a witness before it. 

How did your story on Brown & Williamson and the interview with Jeffery Wigand personally affect you? What did you learn from it?

In the movie Al Pacino tells his wife that his decision may effect his work. When he calls up someone he says,"I am Lowell Bergman from 60 Minutes." They call back. Just "Lowell Bergman" won't work. The movie fixed that. In all it led to my departure from network television news. But my work and career have in the end thrived.

What did I learn from the interview? Ah, now that's a long story....I am working on my memoir.

The Insider did not do well in the box office in 1999 though it received strong critical praise. Why do you think this is?

Disney did not know how to market it. Michael Eisner, then CEO, told Don Hewitt he 'regretted making it'. Despite that statement it was nominated for seven academy awards. Usually, the actor nominated for an Oscar is profiled on 60 Minutes, and the film is re released in thousands of theatres. That's what happened with "American Beauty" {Kevin Spacey}, but it did not happen for Russell Crowe {Wigand}. And under pressure from Michael Mann they re released....but in only 300 theatres and not for more than two weeks....It did not appear on television for a least five years after it was made...maybe more.

What do you feel is the ethical state of journalism in general today?

In general it sucks. But that's not new.