Truth In Journalism

"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America as an independent press. You know it and I know it. 

There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.  I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinions out of the

paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another

job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.

The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth;

to lie outright;

to pervert;

to vilify;

to fawn at the feet of mammon, and

to sell his country and his race for his daily bread.

You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we

dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men.  We are intellectual prostitutes." 

 

-- John Swinton

(1829-1901) Former Head of Editorial Staff for the New York Times