Forbidden to write anything critical of the Fascist regime, they could only report what the hierarchy wanted them to report. The clever and honest American and British journalists, however, did insinuate startling facts in their stories; these insinuations, unfortunately, were between the lines and not for those who read as they run, and the American public is mostly a running reading public.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Censored journalists under fascism can only report what the regime allows, but clever writers subtly imply truths that most readers miss.
- In plain terms
- Under censorship, honest reporters hint at the truth between the lines, though most people do not read closely enough to catch it.
- What can you take from it?
- Subtle writing can bypass censorship, but only if the audience reads carefully.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much truth is hidden in plain sight?
- Who benefits when readers skim the news?
Another view
Most readers do not have the time or habit to decipher subtle insinuations.
More from George Seldes
One of the biggest pieces of bunkum shoved down the American throat was the story of the 1929 Italian election. For this I cannot blame my colleagues.
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