Systems Whizzard

Bill Moyer's speech at Society of Professional Journalists National Convention

Bill Moyer's speech at Society of Professional Journalists National Convention.

Three months from now he'll be retiring from journalism (he hosts a PBS news show on Friday nights called NOW). IMHO one of the best hourlong news programs on the planet.

Quotes:

"They helped me relearn another of journalism’s basic lessons. The job of trying to tell the truth about people whose job it is to hide the truth is almost as complicated and difficult as trying to hide it in the first place."

"Our job remains essentially the same: to gather, weigh, organize, analyze, and present information people need to know in order to make sense of the world."

And the summary:

"But the act of keeping the record straight is valuable in itself, she said. “Serious, careful, honest journalism is essential, not because it is a guiding light but because it is a form of honorable behavior, involving the reporter and the reader.” I second that. I believe democracy requires “a sacred contract” between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works. "

posted by Charlie @ 8:36 PM