The chief White House correspondent for the New York Times' Washington Bureau met with U.S. Naval War College (NWC) students and faculty Tuesday, to discuss "The Media and National Security" during a question-and-answer forum held at the school.

Reporter Peter Baker was accompanied by Derek Reveron, professor of national security affairs, who facilitated the discussion.

"Our overall goal is to provide insight into the role journalists play in the United States, how authorized and unauthorized disclosures impact policymaking, and the role of the media in the national security process," said Reveron.

Bringing practitioners such as Baker to NWC is a key component of the curriculum of the National Security Affairs department, added Reveron.

Baker provided the audience with insights into the purpose of media in a democracy and how they gather and disseminate information. Since he has covered three U.S. presidents and one Russian president, Baker was able to provide keen insights into national security decision making.

Baker stressed that when he is writing a story, he likes to get input from military leaders.

"You [the military] should work with the media more, not less," said Baker. "Talking with media will improve the story. You may have had bad experiences in the past, but it's still a better story if you talk with the media than if you don't.

"I get 1,000 words in most of my stories. For everything you say for the story is space in the story that isn't dedicated to the other side, to people who you disagree with."

Several students asked Baker about the reasons media publish classified information. Baker said that it is important to get information to the public that is newsworthy to improve the public's understanding of national issues.

"We publish things we think are newsworthy," he said. "Because the government thinks it should be classified, doesn't mean it's not newsworthy. We make judgements, and that is not an easy science. We take it very seriously."

Baker went on to say that his organization gives the government a chance to make a case for not releasing information.

"We give government the opportunity to make their case with us on classified information," he said.

Baker added that they do not release information that may put lives in danger.

For more news from Naval War College, visit www.navy.mil/.