Press: Newswatch It's News, But Is It Reality?

Just about the most annoying question a journalist faces is, Why don't you print more good news? This question assumes that reporters get a kick out of reporting the bad, have some political motive for doing so or know that sensationalism sells papers. Journalism answers testily: Do you want to avert your eyes from reality and live in a dream world? We have to report the good and bad.

When stated this flatly, the press's side of the argument seems to be the better. The press has a harder time coping with critics who concede that of course the bad must...

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