In Truth and Duty, Mary Mapes recounts the explosive aftermath of her 2004 CBS News report—anchored by Dan Rather—alleging that President George W. Bush had shirked his National Guard service. The broadcast ignited a political firestorm that ended Mapes’ career, forced Rather into early retirement, and led to an unprecedented internal investigation overseen by former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh.

Mapes not only revisits Bush’s political rise and the controversy over the disputed Guard documents, but also takes readers behind the scenes of investigative journalism—both in the newsroom and in the field. The book introduces a wide cast of political and media figures, from Karl Rove to Dan Rather, while shifting settings from rural Texas to Afghanistan and CBS headquarters in New York.

At its core, Truth and Duty is both a memoir and a critique, arguing that the public’s right to question power is increasingly threatened by the combined influence of politicians, corporations, media gatekeepers, and online commentators. At once candid, sharp, and even darkly humorous, Mapes paints a vivid picture of the collapse of journalistic independence in the face of political pressure.

 

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 031235195X
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2005
• Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780312351953
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312351953
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.28 x 1.3 x 9.46 inches
• Condition: Used Very Good

 

Media & Communications Industry, Journalist Biographies, Television Performer Biographies