New Journalism
Re “The New Journalism, an Old Manipulation,” Opinion, Jan. 31:
Daniel Schorr deplores how the lines have been blurred between reporter and talk-show host and, in general, between information and entertainment. He is exactly right, and his message comes as no surprise to the public that holds the media in low esteem when it comes to believability. Two points: First, the public believes that many journalists chase the buck. Second, this negative public feeling is not limited to TV; newspapers and magazines have also experienced a decline in believability.
In college, I was taught that as a journalist, my primary goal would be to inform and enlighten the public for the common good. Some years ago, newspapers took this responsibility seriously. No longer. The reason is obvious: Publishers were scared that TV would steal their advertising dollars, and, of course, this has happened. So, in order to compete with TV, newspapers became more like TV: They went into the entertainment business.
The current threat is the Internet. Today, newspapers are scared that the Net will steal big bucks from them as did TV.
RICHARD E. JESPERSEN
La Palma
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