So Much For Freedom Of The Press
John Swinton, the former chief of staff of the "New York Times," called by
> his peers, "the dean of his profession", was asked in 1953 to give a toast
> before the New York Press Club. He responded with the following statement:
>
> "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 befo*****d
> 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 Journalist is to destroy 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 for rich
> men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and
> we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and or lives are all the property
> of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
And I might add it is so true today. Gator