--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Factor concept is very simple: Watch…" description: "\"The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in power, including and especially the media, so they don't injure or exploit the folks, everyday..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg" --- # The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in… ![“The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in power, including and especially the media, so they don't injure or exploit the folks, everyday Americans. Never before in the United States had a television news guy dared to criticize other journalists on a regular basis. The late Peter…” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg) > “The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in power, including and especially the media, so they don't injure or exploit the folks, everyday Americans. Never before in the United States had a television news guy dared to criticize other journalists on a regular basis. The late Peter Jennings, a friend, told me I was crazy to do it. "These people will not allow anyone to scrutinize them," he said. "They will come after you with a vengeance." And so they have.” [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The idea is to vigilantly monitor those in power, especially media, to prevent abuse; critics face retaliation. **In simple terms:** Watch power and media to prevent exploitation; critics may be punished. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and protect free press. Themes media power accountability whistleblowing Mood cautious determined Type political activist When to use this quote - journalism - government oversight - activism - legal defense Key Concepts political science media ethics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can protect watchdogs? - How can society support media criticism? A Different Perspective Critics risk personal attacks and legal threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-news/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Vengeance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vengeance/) ## Related quotes > [The media could do a much better job, that's for sure, especially the media that targets women... Human rights? They couldn't care less!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-media-could-do-a-much-better-job-that-s-for-sure-especially-the/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I take in a lot of stuff from real life, movies, television, news and it all gets mixed in my head and somehow turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-take-in-a-lot-of-stuff-from-real-life-movies-television-news-and-it/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I do not mean to imply that television news deliberately aims to deprive Americans of a coherent, contextual understanding of their world. I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/i-do-not-mean-to-imply-that-television-news-deliberately-aims-to/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [After once having made the mistake of watching television news, I had worried for a while about an asteroid hitting the earth and wiping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/after-once-having-made-the-mistake-of-watching-television-news-i-had/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The latest wrinkle is on wrinkles. There is a widespread belief that women can't grow old in television news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-savitch/the-latest-wrinkle-is-on-wrinkles-there-is-a-widespread-belief-that/) [Jessica Savitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-savitch/) > [I remember the mid-'50s well. It was when my life changed, and I left acting to become one of the first female television news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-reid-banks/i-remember-the-mid-50s-well-it-was-when-my-life-changed-and-i-left/) [Lynne Reid Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-reid-banks/) > [I think figuring out how to do the best job you can, because frankly, no matter what gender you are - in television news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-brennan/i-think-figuring-out-how-to-do-the-best-job-you-can-because-frankly/) [Margaret Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-brennan/) > [I love breaking news. And I was always trying to create the new, the next thing in television news. So I was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-tur/i-love-breaking-news-and-i-was-always-trying-to-create-the-new-the/) [Zoey Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-tur/) > [We are seeing every night on the television news now a nature hike through the Book of Revelation. These climate-related extreme weather events have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-are-seeing-every-night-on-the-television-news-now-a-nature-hike/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I don't watch television news and, so, whatever I know is from online snippets released by various channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/i-don-t-watch-television-news-and-so-whatever-i-know-is-from-online/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [I think a lot of people in television news look at the cable networks with great envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wallace/i-think-a-lot-of-people-in-television-news-look-at-the-cable-networks/) Chris Wallace > [There is no reason to confuse television news with journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/there-is-no-reason-to-confuse-television-news-with-journalism/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-news-media-s-silence-particularly-television-news-is/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [I want you to know that, despite what you might read at times in the newspapers or see on the television news, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cellucci/i-want-you-to-know-that-despite-what-you-might-read-at-times-in-the/) [Paul Cellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cellucci/) > [Prejudice against womenis many, many times intensified against older women. You are viewed not as an intellect but as a body… Astonishingly, even women's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-guggenheimer/prejudice-against-womenis-many-many-times-intensified-against-older/) Elinor Guggenheimer ## More by Bill O'Reilly > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“bathroom—if you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/bathroom-if-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I think that the terrible, disgraceful coverage actually got Donald Trump elected, along with Hillary Clinton's inability to connect with voters on any level.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-think-that-the-terrible-disgraceful-coverage-actually-got-donald/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“We'll do it live... WE'LL DO IT LIVE! FUCK IT! DO IT LIVE... look, I'll write it and we'll do it live! Fucking thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/we-ll-do-it-live-we-ll-do-it-live-fuck-it-do-it-live-look-i-ll-write/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Alaskans are basically 'leave me alone' type people who respect and embrace different strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/alaskans-are-basically-leave-me-alone-type-people-who-respect-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-should-be-able-to-pass-a-fair/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I'm just a loud Irish guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-m-just-a-loud-irish-guy/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Growing up under the heavy hand of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it was drummed into me that attending weekly mass was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/growing-up-under-the-heavy-hand-of-the-school-sisters-of-notre-dame/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people. Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-truth-is-that-many-powerful-guys-have-fooled-around-while-working/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [They established their patriotic credentials long ago, and are either supportive of the Bush agenda or know when to keep their traps shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/they-established-their-patriotic-credentials-long-ago-and-are-either/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Many Americans simply don't want the pinheads in Washington or the various state capitals to be telling us how to live. But we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/many-americans-simply-don-t-want-the-pinheads-in-washington-or-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Do the atheists in Wisconsin realize they're going to Hell? Did you ask them that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/do-the-atheists-in-wisconsin-realize-they-re-going-to-hell-did-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) [Explore all 265 Bill O'Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in power, including and especially the media, so they don't injure or exploit the folks, everyday Americans. Never before in the United States had a television news guy dared to criticize other journalists on a regular basis. The late Peter Jennings, a friend, told me I was crazy to do it. \"These people will not allow anyone to scrutinize them,\" he said. \"They will come after you with a vengeance.\" And so they have.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill O'Reilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch-all-of-those-in-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch-all-of-those-in-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/bill-o-reilly-1019_bases_the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch_3019139.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Factor concept is very simple: Watch all of those in power, including and especially the media, so they…” — Bill O'Reilly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill O'Reilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Factor concept is very simple:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch-all-of-those-in-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-factor-concept-is-very-simple-watch-all-of-those-in-power/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```