--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole point to American journalism is…" description: "\"The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true.\" — Gore Vidal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/gore-vidal-466_being-true_the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-i_1949307.jpg" --- # The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be… ![“The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/gore-vidal-466_being-true_the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-i_1949307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/gore-vidal-466_being-true_the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-i_1949307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/gore-vidal-466_being-true_the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-i_1949307.jpg) > “The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true.” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalism’s duty is to report facts; truth is the ultimate standard regardless of bias. **In simple terms:** Truth is journalism’s core. Key Takeaway Prioritize factual reporting. Themes journalism truth integrity Mood critical analytical Type expository political When to use this quote - newsrooms - political coverage - investigative reporting Key Concepts media ethics public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify facts? - What role should bias play? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures can distort truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true. Since I ought to be arrogant, impressed with my social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-is-what-ought-to-be-true-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/he-who-would-not-be-frustrate-of-his-hope-to-write-well-hereafter-in/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be-about-telling-people-what/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [You ought to be true for the sake of the folks who think you are true. You never should stoop to a deed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/you-ought-to-be-true-for-the-sake-of-the-folks-who-think-you-are-true/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [When something ought to be true then it proves to be a very powerful truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-something-ought-to-be-true-then-it-proves-to-be-a-very-powerful/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Believe that story false that ought not to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/believe-that-story-false-that-ought-not-to-be-true/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Why are the ones who are too good to be true always being true to someone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dodge/why-are-the-ones-who-are-too-good-to-be-true-always-being-true-to/) [Jim Dodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dodge/) > [If we can't be true to ourselves, what can we be true to?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/if-we-can-t-be-true-to-ourselves-what-can-we-be-true-to/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Be true to yourself. Be true to those you lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/be-true-to-yourself-be-true-to-those-you-lead/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Most magazines have become wallpaper, they're all the same, all the same celebrities. It's really an abysmal time in American journalism right now. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-talbot/most-magazines-have-become-wallpaper-they-re-all-the-same-all-the/) [David Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-talbot/) > [Religion has become the blind spot of American journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-patrick-miller/religion-has-become-the-blind-spot-of-american-journalism/) [D. Patrick Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-patrick-miller/) > [“MH: In an early letter to William Kennedy you spoke of the "dry rot" of American journalism. Tell me what you think. What's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/mh-in-an-early-letter-to-william-kennedy-you-spoke-of-the-dry-rot-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [There has to be some decorum left in politics and in American journalism as well. Our husbands are the candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-mccain/there-has-to-be-some-decorum-left-in-politics-and-in-american/) [Cindy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-mccain/) > [I can only speak as an American, but most journalism here isn't doing its job any more. It's about selling stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-reddick/i-can-only-speak-as-an-american-but-most-journalism-here-isn-t-doing/) [Lance Reddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-reddick/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. 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