--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe democracy requires a 'sacred…" description: "\"I believe democracy requires a 'sacred contract' between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/bill-moyers-2625_believe_i-believe-democracy-requires-a-sacred-co_2551751.png" --- # I believe democracy requires a 'sacred contract' between… ![“I believe democracy requires a 'sacred contract' between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/bill-moyers-2625_believe_i-believe-democracy-requires-a-sacred-co_2551751.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/bill-moyers-2625_believe_i-believe-democracy-requires-a-sacred-co_2551751.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/bill-moyers-2625_believe_i-believe-democracy-requires-a-sacred-co_2551751.png) > “I believe democracy requires a 'sacred contract' between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalists must uphold a sacred agreement with the public, providing honest insight into how the world truly operates. **In simple terms:** Reporters owe the public a trustworthy, truthful exchange. Key Takeaway Maintain integrity and transparency in reporting. Themes journalism trust ethics public discourse accountability Mood thoughtful critical hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - newsrooms - press conferences - social media platforms Key Concepts media literacy civic responsibility information integrity Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do journalists have to their audience? - How can the public hold media accountable? A Different Perspective Trust can be eroded by bias or censorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-democracy/) [Contract Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract-journalists-1526911/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-requires-446364/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalists Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists-trust-1526910/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-despotism-failed-only-for-want-of-a-capable-benevolent-despot-what/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A vital democracy requires an informed electorate, civil discourse, and bold thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/a-vital-democracy-requires-an-informed-electorate-civil-discourse-and/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [“Democracy requires accountability and consent of the governed, which is only possible if citizens know what is being done in their name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/democracy-requires-accountability-and-consent-of-the-governed-which/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Saving the world requires saving democracy. 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It requires a willingness to struggle and learn, to question our own suppositions and biases, to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/a-democracy-requires-open-access-to-ideas-it-requires-a-willingness/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Democracy requires that if you who don't like the outcome of elections you have to tolerate it and then pursue your interest the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/democracy-requires-that-if-you-who-don-t-like-the-outcome-of/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. I mean, I don't want to proselytize but I do feel some sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/but-you-know-i-m-sorry-i-think-democracy-requires-participation-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but-it-is-a-poor-substitute-for/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More by Bill Moyers > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. 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You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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