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THE "FREE" PRESS - John Swinton's 'toast' before the New York Press Club

** I just came across this 'gem' and had to share it with my readers. Kudos to John Swinton for having the courage to tell it like it is. ---- Annamarie

THE "FREE" PRESS

John Swinton, former Chief of Staff for the prestigious New York Times, called by his peers, "The Dean of his profession" was asked to give a toast before the New York Press Club.

Swinton responded with this 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 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 to 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 our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes!"

Reference: http://www.vialls.com/archives/freepress.html

posted by Annamarie at 12:21 AM