---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Newspapers and their editors have to…"
description: "\"Newspapers and their editors have to become as accountable as the rest of us - they are not 'a special case,' and they have only themselves to blame fo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/david-puttnam-28550_argument_newspapers-and-their-editors-have-to-bec_1335245.jpg"
---

#  Newspapers and their editors have to become as accountable…

![“Newspapers and their editors have to become as accountable as the rest of us - they are not 'a special case,' and they have only themselves to blame for having lost the argument for 'exceptionalism' - and with it the right to 'self-regulation.” quote by David Puttnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/david-puttnam-28550_argument_newspapers-and-their-editors-have-to-bec_1335245.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/david-puttnam-28550_argument_newspapers-and-their-editors-have-to-bec_1335245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/david-puttnam-28550_argument_newspapers-and-their-editors-have-to-bec_1335245.jpg)

> “Newspapers and their editors have to become as accountable as the rest of us - they are not 'a special case,' and they have only themselves to blame for having lost the argument for 'exceptionalism' - and with it the right to 'self-regulation.”

[David Puttnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-puttnam/)

## 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 accept the same responsibility as citizens, rejecting claims of special status and self‑regulation.

**In simple terms:** Editors should be as accountable as anyone else.

Key Takeaway

Demand transparency and accountability.

Themes

media ethics accountability journalism self‑regulation

Mood

critical concerned

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- newsrooms
- press conferences
- media watchdog reports
- policy debates

Key Concepts

public trust responsibility bias

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we enforce accountability without stifling press freedom?
- What incentives encourage ethical journalism?

A Different Perspective

Self‑regulation often lacks enforcement mechanisms.

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