Journalism is more important than ever, despite being considered an endangered species, said The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd in a speech at the LBJ auditorium Wednesday night.
"I'm an optimist about the future of journalism because it's not the form that matters, it's the function," she said.
Dowd spoke for 12 minutes in front of a packed audience before taking in questions for about 45 minutes. The LBJ auditorium was completely full, as was an overflow room of people who watched Dowd via television. Guests included former first lady Lady Bird Johnson's press secretary Liz Carpenter, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and Austin syndicated columnist Molly Ivins.
After briefly working for Time magazine, Dowd joined The New York Times in 1983. She was a Washington bureau correspondent from 1986 to 1995, when she became the Times' only female opinion columnist. In 1999, Dowd received the Pulitzer Prize for commentary she wrote on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
"[Dowd's] position in the country is to inspire discussion, to stir things up a bit," said journalism professor Dustin Harp.
Recently Dowd has gained attention with her new book, "Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide," which explores sexual politics in Washington and the media. Her lecture was entitled "Are Journalists Necessary?" - a play on the book's title. The book was not intended to be controversial, Dowd said.
"It was written in a very breezy way," she said.
Dowd, a self-described "technological cretin," spoke about the future of journalism and the role of Web blogs.
"I'm not worried about blogs taking over print journalism. If not for print journalism, what would bloggers have to blog about?" she asked.
She called President George Bush "the boy emperor W," and spoke about his attempt at "one-upping" his father in the history books through his involvement in Iraq. For Vice President Dick Cheney, whom she dubbed "Lord of the Underworld," Dowd condemned what she called his support for torture tactics and detainment camps.
After her remarks, Dowd was asked numerous questions about the controversy surrounding Judith Miller, The New York Times reporter who served jail time for refusing to reveal an anonymous source and recently left the newspaper. The New York Times is currently experiencing "Judy fatigue," she said, adding that Miller may end up with her own Fox talk show.
Her decision to write a column about Miller's journalistic shortcomings was difficult because she didn't want to be perceived as having a "WMD cat fight," she said. "Judy has been a flash point at the Times for two decades now."
Dowd said for reporters to be responsible, they cannot blindly trust their sources.
"Reporting is not stenography," Dowd said.
During questioning, Ivins asked Dowd about the role of newspapers in supporting the invasion of Iraq. Dowd said it was a tough time because after Sept. 11, the administration called anyone who disagreed with the Iraq war unpatriotic.
Despite criticism directed at her newspaper, Dowd stands by her belief that The Times is still doing its best.
"The New York Times is the most fun you can have for a dollar," she said.
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