---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is very difficult to have a free, fair…"
description: "\"It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press anywhere in the world. In the first place, as a rule, papers are largely supported by advert..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg"
---

#  It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press…

![“It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press anywhere in the world. In the first place, as a rule, papers are largely supported by advertising, and that immediately gives the advertisers a certain hold over the medium they use.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg)

> “It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press anywhere in the world. In the first place, as a rule, papers are largely supported by advertising, and that immediately gives the advertisers a certain hold over the medium they use.”

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

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

A free, fair, and honest press is hard to achieve because advertising influences media independence.

**In simple terms:** Press freedom is threatened by advertisers.

Key Takeaway

Seek diverse news sources.

Themes

media freedom advertising bias

Mood

cautious critical

Type

analytical thought‑provoking

When to use this quote

- news consumption
- policy advocacy
- media literacy

Key Concepts

journalism ethics economic pressure

Questions to Reflect On

- How can audiences discern bias?
- What reforms protect editorial integrity?

A Different Perspective

Complete independence may be unrealistic in a market economy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Definitely read a quality daily paper regularly, and use the Internet to check out the press around the world as often as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-schmemann/definitely-read-a-quality-daily-paper-regularly-and-use-the-internet/)

[Serge Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-schmemann/)

> [It's so important to the public to get an honest press. The press - the public doesn't believe you people anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-so-important-to-the-public-to-get-an-honest-press-the-press-the/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I want to see an honest press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-to-see-an-honest-press/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I've been very honest with the press. The only thing I have ever had done is my nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-ray-joel/i-ve-been-very-honest-with-the-press-the-only-thing-i-have-ever-had/)

[Alexa Ray Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-ray-joel/)

> [I've been very honest with the press, even when I had work done on my face. A lot of people would cover that up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-ray-joel/i-ve-been-very-honest-with-the-press-even-when-i-had-work-done-on-my/)

[Alexa Ray Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-ray-joel/)

> [“Robbed of a rapt audience, advertisers know that influencing how you spend what to do while depends on having some control over how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/robbed-of-a-rapt-audience-advertisers-know-that-influencing-how-you/)

[Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/)

> [Denunciations of the manipulativeness of advertisers can unfortunately all too easily be turned on their heads into denunciations of the gullibility of consumers. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/denunciations-of-the-manipulativeness-of-advertisers-can/)

[J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/)

> [The next time you see John Stossel or Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, these flat-Earthers, these corporate toadies, lying to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/the-next-time-you-see-john-stossel-or-glenn-beck-or-rush-limbaugh-or/)

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/)

> [People are looking for original content in many different places, as are advertisers. This takes us into a whole new ballgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/people-are-looking-for-original-content-in-many-different-places-as/)

[Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/)

> [As you start to see more respected advertisers coming in and looking at esports, you're going to find that there's a lot of interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morhaime/as-you-start-to-see-more-respected-advertisers-coming-in-and-looking/)

[Michael Morhaime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morhaime/)

> [There are all kinds of people who continue to be largely ignored by advertisers, whose lives largely go unseen. They deserve their moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/there-are-all-kinds-of-people-who-continue-to-be-largely-ignored-by/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [In the old days, advertisers ventured on their own opinions. The few guess right, the many wrong. Those were the time of advertising disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-c-hopkins/in-the-old-days-advertisers-ventured-on-their-own-opinions-the-few/)

[Claude C. Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-c-hopkins/)

> [Advertisers now have a highly targeted opportunity for aligning their brands alongside the entertainment experience people are enjoying on YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/advertisers-now-have-a-highly-targeted-opportunity-for-aligning-their/)

[Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/)

> [The consumption of alcohol is increasing among youth. Targeting young audiences, advertisers portray beer and wine as joyful, socially desirable, and harmless. Producers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-consumption-of-alcohol-is-increasing-among-youth-targeting-young/)

[Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

## More by Eleanor Roosevelt

> [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

## More Advertisers quotes

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [The consumption of alcohol is increasing among youth. Targeting young audiences, advertisers portray beer and wine as joyful, socially desirable, and harmless. Producers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-consumption-of-alcohol-is-increasing-among-youth-targeting-young/)

[Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/)

> [Advertisers now have a highly targeted opportunity for aligning their brands alongside the entertainment experience people are enjoying on YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/advertisers-now-have-a-highly-targeted-opportunity-for-aligning-their/)

[Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/)

> [In the old days, advertisers ventured on their own opinions. The few guess right, the many wrong. Those were the time of advertising disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-c-hopkins/in-the-old-days-advertisers-ventured-on-their-own-opinions-the-few/)

[Claude C. Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-c-hopkins/)

> [There are all kinds of people who continue to be largely ignored by advertisers, whose lives largely go unseen. They deserve their moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/there-are-all-kinds-of-people-who-continue-to-be-largely-ignored-by/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [As you start to see more respected advertisers coming in and looking at esports, you're going to find that there's a lot of interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morhaime/as-you-start-to-see-more-respected-advertisers-coming-in-and-looking/)

[Michael Morhaime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morhaime/)

> [People are looking for original content in many different places, as are advertisers. This takes us into a whole new ballgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/people-are-looking-for-original-content-in-many-different-places-as/)

[Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/)

> [The next time you see John Stossel or Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, these flat-Earthers, these corporate toadies, lying to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/the-next-time-you-see-john-stossel-or-glenn-beck-or-rush-limbaugh-or/)

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/)

> [Denunciations of the manipulativeness of advertisers can unfortunately all too easily be turned on their heads into denunciations of the gullibility of consumers. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/denunciations-of-the-manipulativeness-of-advertisers-can/)

[J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/)

> [“Robbed of a rapt audience, advertisers know that influencing how you spend what to do while depends on having some control over how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/robbed-of-a-rapt-audience-advertisers-know-that-influencing-how-you/)

[Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/)

> [So the first things that you see when you look up something on Google could be dependent on the amount of advertising or something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/so-the-first-things-that-you-see-when-you-look-up-something-on-google/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Experience has taught me that advertisers get the best results when they pay their agency a flat fee. It is unrealistic to expect your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/experience-has-taught-me-that-advertisers-get-the-best-results-when/)

[David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/)

> [Commercial television has lowered the general standard of TV in an endeavour to get millions and masses of people to watch the advertising. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-robens-baron-robens-of-woldingham/commercial-television-has-lowered-the-general-standard-of-tv-in-an/)

Alfred Robens, Baron Robens of Woldingham

> [Let's face it, we're skunk drunk and it's because of money. It's almost like we all need to enter Betty Ford Clinic 2.0 together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rubel/let-s-face-it-we-re-skunk-drunk-and-it-s-because-of-money-it-s-almost/)

[Steve Rubel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rubel/)

> [I don't think the advertisers have any real idea of their power not only to reflect but to mold society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/i-don-t-think-the-advertisers-have-any-real-idea-of-their-power-not/)

[Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/)

Browse all 108 Advertisers quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press anywhere in the world. In the first place, as a rule, papers are largely supported by advertising, and that immediately gives the advertisers a certain hold over the medium they use.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eleanor Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair-and-honest-press-anywhere-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advertisers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair-and-honest-press-anywhere-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/eleanor-roosevelt-381_advertisers_it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair_2500073.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is very difficult to have a free, fair and honest press anywhere in the world. In the first place, as a…” — Eleanor Roosevelt",
                "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": "Eleanor Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is very difficult to have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair-and-honest-press-anywhere-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-very-difficult-to-have-a-free-fair-and-honest-press-anywhere-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
