Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper


"Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper". Thomas Jefferson

Reasons to agree

  1. H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) has said; "All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it; if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else."
  2. Newspapers are not motivated by finding truth. They are motivated by selling adds. Controversy sells readers. Newspapers promote controversy (just like Eminem). But it is more than just saying, journalist will have more stories to write about if there is more conflict is in the world. Ads are sold by conflict, but they are also sold by reassuring the reader what they already believe. Thus newspapers in liberal areas tend to attack conservatives, and newspapers in Red States tend to attack liberals. But which came first? The chicken or the egg? Did the liberal newspapers cause liberals to become liberal, or does the newspaper follow the liberals? Those familiar with the bible will be familiar with the term “itching ears”. Or those who speak, what their audience wants to hear.

 

Reasons to agree

  1. Of course, this is an exaggeration. You can never say never,always, or nothing.

 

Score: +2 (reasons to agree), -1 (reasons to disagree) = +1