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An Independent Press? It No Longer Exists
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Back in 1953, John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff for the New York Times, was asked to give a toast to the independent press before the New York Press Club. What follows is a portion from his toast:
"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, asan independent press. You know it and I know it. There isnot 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 ampaid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper.Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any ofyou who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out onthe streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honestopinions to appear in one issue of the paper, before twenty-four hoursmy occupation would be gone. Or quite possibly, I'd be dead."
"Thebusiness of journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; topervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell hiscountry and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I knowit. What folly is this, toasting to an independent press?We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. Weare the jumping jacks; they pull the strings and we dance. Ourtalents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of othermen. We are intellectual prostitutes, whores. Nothing more."
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An Independent Press? It No Longer Exists
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Back in 1953, John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff for the New York Times, was asked to give a toast to the independent press before the New York Press Club. What follows is a portion from his toast:
"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, asan independent press. You know it and I know it. There isnot 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 ampaid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper.Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any ofyou who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out onthe streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honestopinions to appear in one issue of the paper, before twenty-four hoursmy occupation would be gone. Or quite possibly, I'd be dead."
"Thebusiness of journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; topervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell hiscountry and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I knowit. What folly is this, toasting to an independent press?We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. Weare the jumping jacks; they pull the strings and we dance. Ourtalents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of othermen. We are intellectual prostitutes, whores. Nothing more."
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