--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If information is true, if it can be…" description: "\"If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be willing to take the risk associated with using u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg" --- # If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's… ![“If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be willing to take the risk associated with using unidentified sources.” quote by Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg) > “If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be willing to take the risk associated with using unidentified sources.” [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalists should verify truth, importance, and be prepared to risk using unnamed sources when necessary. **In simple terms:** Verify truth, importance, and risk use unknown sources. Key Takeaway Balance verification with responsible risk. Themes journalism ethics risk management Mood cautious analytical Type advisory reflective When to use this quote - investigative reporting - breaking news - whistleblower cases - political scandals Key Concepts source verification public interest media responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to use an unnamed source? - How do you assess the importance of a story? A Different Perspective Unidentified sources can damage credibility if mishandled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/what-a-newspaper-needs-in-its-news-in-its-headlines-and-on-its/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [“At least I understand her. At least I am willing to give her what she needs.” “You’re willing to give her what she wants.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dark-calling/at-least-i-understand-her-at-least-i-am-willing-to-give-her-what-she/) Dark Calling > [“He needs to be willing to fight for me dad, but he doesn't want to." "I think he's doing enough fighting for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-fernando/he-needs-to-be-willing-to-fight-for-me-dad-but-he-doesn-t-want-to-i/) [Chantal Fernando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-fernando/) > [“If other people don't meet your needs, you have to be willing to walk out, since in the end that may well be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-madsen/if-other-people-don-t-meet-your-needs-you-have-to-be-willing-to-walk/) Richard Madsen > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [If you want to do something extraordinary, there's always risk involved. I was always willing to take that risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-baumgartner/if-you-want-to-do-something-extraordinary-there-s-always-risk/) [Felix Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-baumgartner/) > [We as fighters and teams, we need to look out for our guys. We need to look out for the guys who are super…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/we-as-fighters-and-teams-we-need-to-look-out-for-our-guys-we-need-to/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [If you are not willing to risk, you cannot become your best, and if you cannot become your best, you cannot be happy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/if-you-are-not-willing-to-risk-you-cannot-become-your-best-and-if-you/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [“What am I willing to risk for the possibility of getting what I want?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/what-am-i-willing-to-risk-for-the-possibility-of-getting-what-i-want/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Any time you do anything different in this life, it's risky. But I've only done things differently, and it's gotten me quite far. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giada-de-laurentiis/any-time-you-do-anything-different-in-this-life-it-s-risky-but-i-ve/) [Giada De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giada-de-laurentiis/) > [Solidarity is based on the principle that we are willing to put ourselves at risk to protect each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starhawk/solidarity-is-based-on-the-principle-that-we-are-willing-to-put/) [Starhawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starhawk/) > [The majority of people are not willing to risk what they have built for the opportunity to have something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-samit/the-majority-of-people-are-not-willing-to-risk-what-they-have-built/) [Jay Samit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-samit/) > [Those who are not willing to risk it all for love, should not be surprised when they get second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-are-not-willing-to-risk-it-all-for-love-should-not-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you truly care about someone, you must be willing to risk it all just for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-truly-care-about-someone-you-must-be-willing-to-risk-it-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to be willing to risk things; otherwise, somebody else will put you out of business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-leone/you-have-to-be-willing-to-risk-things-otherwise-somebody-else-will/) [Douglas Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-leone/) ## More by Bob Woodward > [Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/certain-political-figures-think-when-you-call-them-and-ask-them-for-a/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“Maybe that would be less crucial under Obama, Podesta thought, because Obama's approach was so intellectual. He compared Obama to Spock from Star Trek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/maybe-that-would-be-less-crucial-under-obama-podesta-thought-because/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/way-before-watergate-senior-administration-officials-hid-behind/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Not a season passes without new disclosures showing Nixon's numerous attempts at criminal use of his presidential powers and in fact the scorn he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/not-a-season-passes-without-new-disclosures-showing-nixon-s-numerous/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The cloud of doubt that surrounds political figures tends to remain and never dissipate or be clarified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-cloud-of-doubt-that-surrounds-political-figures-tends-to-remain/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Sometimes,doing nothing is the best reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/sometimes-doing-nothing-is-the-best-reaction/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Getting up in the morning and having work you love is what makes life different for people. If you get into a position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/getting-up-in-the-morning-and-having-work-you-love-is-what-makes-life/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The number of illegal activities were so large that one was bound to come out and lead to the uncovering of the others. Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-number-of-illegal-activities-were-so-large-that-one-was-bound-to/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The failure of the system to deal quickly was attributable to Nixon's lying, stonewalling and refusal to come clean. So it took 26 months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-failure-of-the-system-to-deal-quickly-was-attributable-to-nixon-s/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [The biggest rap on me is that I don't find a Watergate every couple of years. Well, Watergate was unique. It's not something Carl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/the-biggest-rap-on-me-is-that-i-don-t-find-a-watergate-every-couple/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [There are people who take rumors and embellish them in a way that can be devastating. And this pollution has to be eradicated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/there-are-people-who-take-rumors-and-embellish-them-in-a-way-that-can/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“I'm done doing this!' Obama said, finally erupting. 'We've all agreed on a plan. And we're all going to stick to that plan. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/i-m-done-doing-this-obama-said-finally-erupting-we-ve-all-agreed-on-a/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“He never really voice pure, raw outrage to me about Watergate or what it represented. The crimes and abuses were background music. Nixon was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/he-never-really-voice-pure-raw-outrage-to-me-about-watergate-or-what/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [It was accountability that Nixon feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/it-was-accountability-that-nixon-feared/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Lawyers didn't seriously get involved in the Watergate stories until quite late, when we realized we were on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/lawyers-didn-t-seriously-get-involved-in-the-watergate-stories-until/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) [Explore all 100 Bob Woodward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/) Wayne Williams > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be willing to take the risk associated with using unidentified sources.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Woodward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-verified-and-if-it-s-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Important" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-verified-and-if-it-s-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/bob-woodward-5424_important_if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-veri_655229.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be…” — Bob Woodward", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bob Woodward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If information is true, if it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-verified-and-if-it-s-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/if-information-is-true-if-it-can-be-verified-and-if-it-s-really/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```