---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking to the subject is the most…"
description: "\"Speaking to the subject is the most overrated thing in journalism,\" — David Remnick"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/david-remnick-4397_inspirational_speaking-to-the-subject-is-the-most-over_2971336.jpg"
---

#  Speaking to the subject is the most overrated thing in…

![“Speaking to the subject is the most overrated thing in journalism,” quote by David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/david-remnick-4397_inspirational_speaking-to-the-subject-is-the-most-over_2971336.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/david-remnick-4397_inspirational_speaking-to-the-subject-is-the-most-over_2971336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/david-remnick-4397_inspirational_speaking-to-the-subject-is-the-most-over_2971336.jpg)

> “Speaking to the subject is the most overrated thing in journalism,”

[David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Directly questioning interview subjects is often overvalued; listening can be more revealing.

**In simple terms:** Listening can be more valuable than asking questions.

Key Takeaway

Listen before you speak.

Themes

journalism interview techniques listening

Mood

reflective critical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- newsroom
- political interview
- documentary

Key Concepts

media ethics information gathering

Questions to Reflect On

- When is asking essential?
- How does silence shape a story?

A Different Perspective

May undervalue the role of probing questions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Overrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrated/) [Overrated Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrated-thing-1301237/) [Subject Overrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-overrated-4576222/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Thing Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-journalism-539360/)

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