What is the Watergate scandal and why could this story not have happened in 2012?
I know what the watergate scandal is, it was the political scandal that led to Nixons resignation where burglars who broke into the Democratic party headquarters had ties to his administration.. but not sure about the 2nd part of the question
I don't know, but here are some opinions on the subject.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/19/AR2008121902928.html
http://www.northjersey.com/community/history/more_history_news/173434271_Carl_Bernstein_lectures_on_the_40th_anniversary_of_Watergate_at_William_Paterson_in_Wayne.html
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal that occurred in the early 1970s in the United States. It began on June 17, 1972, when five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters, located in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. These burglars were later found to have connections to President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign, and their actions were part of a larger operation referred to as "dirty tricks" or illegal activities to undermine Nixon's political opponents.
Now let's move on to why this story could not have happened in 2012. The main reason is that the technology and media landscape has significantly evolved since the 1970s. In the Watergate era, information dissemination was largely confined to traditional media outlets such as newspapers, television, and radio. Investigative journalism played a crucial role in uncovering the Watergate scandal, as reporters diligently pursued leads and sources to expose the truth.
In 2012, the media landscape had undergone drastic changes. The rise of digital media and the internet allowed for rapid and widespread dissemination of information. Social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, had become influential sources of news and information. Additionally, citizen journalism and independent investigative bloggers had gained prominence, providing alternative sources of news.
With the advancements in technology and the proliferation of digital media, it is highly unlikely that a scandal like Watergate could have remained hidden for long in 2012. The speed at which information spreads and the ease of anonymous leaks or whistleblowing would have made it much harder for any malfeasance to go unnoticed or unreported. The heightened public scrutiny and the ability of individuals to share information instantaneously would have likely exposed any wrongdoing before it could escalate to the extent seen in Watergate.
Therefore, while the Watergate scandal unfolded in a time when traditional media held significant influence and information could be more easily suppressed or controlled, the changed media landscape in 2012 would have made it much more challenging for a similar scandal to endure without public knowledge.