I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast.
—William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91) American Military Leader, Businessperson, Educator
Headlines twice the size of the events.
—John Galsworthy (1867–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
News is what a chap who doesn’t care much about anything wants to read. And it’s only news until he’s read it. After that it’s dead.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
The greatest felony in the news business today is to be behind, or to miss a big story. So speed and quantity substitute for thoroughness and quality, for accuracy and context. The pressure to compete, the fear somebody else will make the splash first, creates a frenzied environment in which a blizzard of information is presented and serious questions may not be raised.
—Carl Bernstein (1944–73) American Journalist, Writer
I well believe it, to unwilling ears;None love the messenger who brings bad news.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
A newspaper is lumber made malleable. It is ink made into words and pictures. It is conceived, born, grows up and dies of old age in a day.
—Jim Bishop (1907–87) American Journalist, Author