John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff at the NEW YORK TIMES speech 1953

Asked to give a toast before the prestigious New York Press Club in 1953,John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff at the NEW YORK TIMES, made thiscandid confession [it's worth noting that Swinton was called "The Dean ofHis Profession" by other newsmen, who admired him greatly]:"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, as anindependent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you whodares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehandthat it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honestopinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paidsimilar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolishas to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for anotherjob."If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, beforetwenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of thejournalist is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify;to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell the country for his daily bread.You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independentpress. We are the tools and vassals of the rich men behind the scenes. Weare the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, ourpossibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We areintellectual prostitutes."

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