CBS News journalist David Martin and producer Mary Walsh presented a lecture on their story “The New Cold War” to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library on December 5, 2017. Martin and Walsh won the 2016 Gerald R. Ford Journalism Award for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense for “The New Cold War”. The program aired in September 2016 on 60 Minutes.
Each year, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation awards two distinguished journalism prizes, one for reporting on the Presidency and the other for reporting on National Defense. These prizes, initiated in 1988, recognize reportorial excellence and the fostering of better public understanding of the presidency and national defense. Each year the two prizes are presented to the winners at a reception and luncheon in Washington, D.C. and include a $5,000 award, one for each prize. (learn more about the Journalism Award Prizes)
Martin began his career with CBS News as a national security correspondent, covering both the Pentagon and State Department since 1993. He has reported for CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and 48 Hours. Walsh started with CBS News in 1993 as a national security team producer and also covered stories on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, and George H.W. Bush’s 1988 Presidential campaign.
Martin opened the lecture describing how CBS News uses a team of cameramen, sound crews, video editors, journalists, and producers to create a story referred to as “group journalism.” Martin discussed the details around using this technique for “The New Cold War” which detailed the United States government’s nuclear attack preparedness process. Martin discussed how the issue of Presidential temperament during the 2016 campaign led to the creation of the “The New Cold War” story. Martin explained that the story details the extraordinary lengths the U.S. military takes to ensure the President of the United States can use nuclear weapons.
He then elaborated on the process 60 Minutes takes to determine whom they would interview for the story noting, “Interviews are the heart of any 60 Minutes piece.” Martin indicated that “The New Cold War” story presented a unique challenge of converting the technical and military Cold War terms used by his interviewees into a relatable story.
Walsh discussed her role as a producer in putting the pieces of a 60 Minutes story together and likened it to conducting a “symphony orchestra”. Walsh highlighted the challenges of transforming the top-secret headquarters and interviews with top ranking U.S. military into “television” for “The New Cold War.” Walsh noted that the founder of 60 Minutes Don Hewitt believed there is nothing more expressive than the human face in an interview, which is a focus on any 60 Minutes story. She noted that this was referred to as “60 tight.”
Walsh closed by saying she had the opportunity to meet President Gerald R. Ford as a journalism undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin, and acknowledged how he recognized journalism as an integral part of democracy.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Supervisory Archivist Geir Gundersen opened the event. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Executive Director Joe Calvaruso introduced the two speakers and shared a brief video clip of “The New Cold War” story. Martin and Walsh closed the lecture answering questions from the audience.
