I don't think there will ever be a permanent truce, but I believe the media needs to be more careful and be willing to count to 10 before rushing on the air or into print.
Bob WoodwardRead
The central dilemma in journalism is that you don't know what you don't know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Journalism involves uncertainty and the challenge of discovering unknown truths.
This quote by Bob Woodward highlights a fundamental challenge faced by journalists: the limitation of their knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of inquiry and investigation, as there are often aspects of a story or situation that remain hidden until further exploration is undertaken. This speaks to the necessity of curiosity and diligence in journalism to uncover the full scope of truth, particularly in a world filled with complexities and often, misinformation.
Themes
JournalismTruthInquiryKnowledgeIgnorance
In practice
Example use cases
In a journalism class, to emphasize the importance of thorough investigation.
More from Bob Woodward
All quotes βThere's hostility to lying, and there should be.
Bob WoodwardRead
Newspapers that are truly independent, like The Washington Post, can still aggressively investigate anyone or anything with no holds barred.
Bob WoodwardRead
The legislator learns that when you talk a lot, you get in trouble. You have to listen a lot to make deals.
Bob WoodwardRead
I'm not going to name some of my colleagues who are very well-known for their television presentation, but they wouldn't know new information or how to report a story if it came up and bit them.
Bob WoodwardRead
Using these unnamed sources, if done properly, carefully and fairly, provides more accountability in government.
Bob WoodwardRead
Similar quotes
Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands are left without education.
Robert Charles WinthropRead
When you have teachers saying, 'I don't have enough time for hands-on activities,' we need to rethink the way we do education.
Mae JemisonRead
The biggest job we have is to teach a newly hired employee how to fail intelligently. We have to train him to experiment over and over and to keep on trying and failing until he learns what will work.
Charles KetteringRead
We never stop investigating. We are never satisfied that we know enough to get by. Every question we answer leads on to another question. This has become the greatest survival trick of our species.
Desmond MorrisRead
Universities are not here to be mediums for the coercion of other people, they're here to be mediums for the free exchange of ideas.
A. Bartlett GiamattiRead
The primary goal in the education of children is to teach, and to give the example of, a virtuous life.
Saint John ChrysostomRead