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If we go on as we are, we are protecting the mind of the American public from any real contact with the menacing world that squeezes in upon us. We are engaged in a great experiment to discover whether a free public opinion can devise and direct methods of managing the affairs of the nation. We may fail. But we are handicapping ourselves needlessly.

Edward R. Murrow#46

MediaTruthSocietyDemocracyPublic opinion

About this quote

What does it mean?
Murrow warns that shielding the public from real-world threats undermines democracy and handicaps the nation's ability to manage its affairs.
In plain terms
Protecting people from bad news keeps them from solving real problems and weakens democracy.
What can you take from it?
Avoiding harsh realities weakens a society's ability to govern itself.

Where it applies

  • journalism
  • civic education
  • policy making

Putting it to work

  • advocating for full transparency
  • teaching critical thinking
  • engaging with news

Questions to consider

  • How much truth does the public need to function?
  • What are the risks of total transparency?

Another view

Some information may be too sensitive to share publicly without causing panic.

More from Edward R. Murrow

  1. The sponsor of an hour's television program is not buying merely the six minutes devoted to commercial message. He is determining, within broad limits, the sum…

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  2. Just once in a while let us exalt the importance of ideas and information.

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  3. Do not be deluded into believing that the titular heads of the networks control what appears on their networks. They all have better taste. All are responsible…

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