Army Quote by Clarence Page
“I will say that the difference was that when you're an Army journalist, as opposed to a civilian correspondent covering the military, you're very often either a public relations agent or expected to perform that role. I would say that one of the most unexpected benefits of that job was being taught to never try to cover anything up, but rather to get any bad information out right away, so that there would be nothing more to come out later. This was a wonderful lesson to be taught because often the effort to cover up a story becomes a bigger story than the original one.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing military journalism, 2020
Military journalists are expected to be transparent, avoiding cover‑ups, which prevents stories from escalating.
In simple terms: Being open prevents small lies from becoming big scandals.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize transparency over image.
Themes
journalism
ethics
transparency
Mood
serious
instructive
Type
professional
educational
When to use this quote
- newsrooms
- military reporting
- media training
- crisis communication
Key Concepts
public relations
information flow
accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- What challenges arise when truth threatens authority?
- How can journalists balance duty and honesty?
A Different Perspective
Pressure to protect institutional image may conflict with truth.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
