Importance of Accountability in Journalism

But I have enjoyed working with all of you.

Uh, that does not, of course, mean that I've enjoyed every story

that you have

filed, uh, but that's the point of this relationship.

You're not supposed to be

sycophants. You're supposed to be skeptics.

You're supposed to ask me tough questions.

You're not supposed to be complimentary, uh, but you're supposed to cast a

critical eye on folks who hold enormous power

and make sure that we are accountable to the people who

sent us here, and you have done that.

And you've, uh, done it

for the most part, uh, in ways that, uh, I

could appreciate for fairness even if I didn't always agree

with your conclusions. Um, and having you in this

building, uh, has made

this place work better. It keeps us honest.

It makes us work harder.

You have, uh, in, made us, uh, think about

how we are doing what we do and whether or not we're able to deliver, uh,

on what's been requested,

uh, by our constituents