--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing I understood from the beginning…" description: "\"“One thing I understood from the beginning is that the press almost completely tunes out abstractions. They won’t write about ideas without larger-than..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/eric-s-raymond-5007_journalism_one-thing-i-understood-from-the-beginnin_831757.jpg" --- # One thing I understood from the beginning is that the… ![“One thing I understood from the beginning is that the press almost completely tunes out abstractions. They won’t write about ideas without larger-than-life personalities fronting them. Everything has to be story, drama, conflict, sound bites. Otherwise, most reporters will simply go to sleep — and…” quote by Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/eric-s-raymond-5007_journalism_one-thing-i-understood-from-the-beginnin_831757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/eric-s-raymond-5007_journalism_one-thing-i-understood-from-the-beginnin_831757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/eric-s-raymond-5007_journalism_one-thing-i-understood-from-the-beginnin_831757.jpg) > ““One thing I understood from the beginning is that the press almost completely tunes out abstractions. They won’t write about ideas without larger-than-life personalities fronting them. Everything has to be story, drama, conflict, sound bites. Otherwise, most reporters will simply go to sleep — and even if they don’t, their editors will.”” [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The press prefers vivid personalities and drama over abstract ideas, so pure concepts rarely get coverage. **In simple terms:** Media favors stories over ideas. Key Takeaway Make ideas compelling with narratives. Themes media communication storytelling Mood critical analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - press releases - policy briefs - academic outreach - marketing campaigns Key Concepts journalism abstraction attention span Questions to Reflect On - How can abstract concepts be framed as stories? - What narrative techniques engage journalists? A Different Perspective Complex ideas may still be ignored without sensational hooks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Reporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporters/) ## Related quotes > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. 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