| The Times's highly inaccurate coverage of the Russian Revolution was an inspiration for Walter Lippmann's commentary on improving media accuracy, in the first decades of the 20th century: The analysis shows how seriously misleading was the Times by its reliance on the offical purveyors of information. It indicates that statements of fact emanating from governments and the circles around governments cannot be taken as judgements of fact by an independent press. They indicate opinion, they are controlled by special purpose, and they are not trustworthy news. Even more problematic than official sources, the authors continue, are the semi-official anyomous reports often relied upon. All the more reason to shun official Information Ministers and Spokesmen, press briefings, and the like. The quote comes from "A Test of the News", the researchers were Walter Lippman and Charles Merz, the publication The New Republic, and the date, August 4, 1920. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. https://archive.org/stream/LippmannMerzATestoftheNews/Lippma... |