Is the press honest? The shocking, but truthful answer to that question was given by John Swinton (1830-1901), a New York Times editor, in a five minute talk, "Journalists Gathering," at the Twilight Club in New York, April 12, 1883. Here is what he said.
"There is no such thing, at this stage of the world’s history in America, as an independent press, if we except that of the little country towns. You know this and I know it. There is not one of you who dare 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 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 papers, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.
"The business of the journalist 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, or what amounts to the same thing, his salary. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press?
"We are the tools and vassals of the rich behind the scenes. We are marionettes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our capabilities and our lives are all the property of these men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
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