Essence Quote by John Gunther
“The first essence of journalism is to know what you want to know, the second, is to find out who will tell you.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Journalism: Principles and Practice, 1970
Effective journalism starts by defining the information need, then identifying the most reliable source to fulfill it.
In simple terms: Know what you need, then find the right source.
Key Takeaway
Clarify your question before researching.
Themes
information gathering
source credibility
research methods
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
educational
practical
When to use this quote
- news reporting
- academic research
- investigative work
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
journalistic inquiry
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify source reliability?
- What if no clear source exists?
A Different Perspective
If the source is biased, the answer may be misleading.
![“[Chicago] is the greatest and most typically American of all cities. New York is bigger and more spectacular and can outmatch it in other superlatives, but it is a "world" city, more European in some respects than American.” quote by John Gunther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b98/john-gunther-24750_american-cities_chicago-is-the-greatest-and-most-typical_326243.jpg)
