--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Journalists don't sit down and think…" description: "\"Journalists don't sit down and think, \"I'm now going to speak for the establishment.\" Of course not. But they internalize a whole set of assumptions, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/john-pilger-10261_assumption_journalists-don-t-sit-down-and-think-i-m_2400624.jpg" --- # Journalists don't sit down and think, "I'm now going to… ![“Journalists don't sit down and think, "I'm now going to speak for the establishment." Of course not. But they internalize a whole set of assumptions, and one of the most potent assumptions is that the world should be seen in terms of its usefulness to the West, not humanity. This leads journalists…” quote by John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/john-pilger-10261_assumption_journalists-don-t-sit-down-and-think-i-m_2400624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/john-pilger-10261_assumption_journalists-don-t-sit-down-and-think-i-m_2400624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/john-pilger-10261_assumption_journalists-don-t-sit-down-and-think-i-m_2400624.jpg) > “Journalists don't sit down and think, "I'm now going to speak for the establishment." Of course not. But they internalize a whole set of assumptions, and one of the most potent assumptions is that the world should be seen in terms of its usefulness to the West, not humanity. This leads journalists to make a distinction between people who matter and people who don't matter.” [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalists often view the world through a Western lens, ignoring broader humanity. **In simple terms:** Western bias narrows perspective. Key Takeaway Broaden viewpoint beyond Western usefulness. Themes bias media globalism Mood critical analytical Type journalistic political When to use this quote - news reporting - foreign correspondence - policy analysis Key Concepts journalistic ethics cultural relativism power structures Questions to Reflect On - How does Western bias affect reporting? - What can journalists do to be more inclusive? A Different Perspective Changing ingrained assumptions is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists/) [Journalists Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists-don-469922/) [Journalists Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists-make-1950732/) [Leads Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leads-journalists-6011125/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-matter-293101/) [People Who Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-matter/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Usefulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usefulness/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“you don’t need photos to remember the people who matter to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/you-don-t-need-photos-to-remember-the-people-who-matter-to-you/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I am ME no matter what. Because the people who mind don't matter and the people who matter don't mind :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/i-am-me-no-matter-what-because-the-people-who-mind-don-t-matter-and/) [Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/) > [“She isn't a big deal, of course, except to the people who matter in her life, but since these are the only ones she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/she-isn-t-a-big-deal-of-course-except-to-the-people-who-matter-in-her/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Insulate yourself... from anonymous angry people Expose yourself to art you don't yet understand Precisely measure the results that are important to you Stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/insulate-yourself-from-anonymous-angry-people-expose-yourself-to-art/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“the people who matter in our lives stay with us, haunting our most ordinary moments. They’re with us in the grocery store, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/the-people-who-matter-in-our-lives-stay-with-us-haunting-our-most/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“The people who matter most will see.  What matters is that you live your life for you, not by what somebody else says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-gargasz/the-people-who-matter-most-will-see-what-matters-is-that-you-live/) [Miranda Gargasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-gargasz/) > [I spend my birthday at home close to the people who matter to me. That's the way I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-garewal/i-spend-my-birthday-at-home-close-to-the-people-who-matter-to-me-that/) [Simi Garewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-garewal/) > [Always be yourself 'cause the people who matter don't mind...and the people who mind don't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/always-be-yourself-cause-the-people-who-matter-don-t-mind-and-the/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The people who mind don't matter, but the people who matter don't mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-who-mind-don-t-matter-but-the-people-who-matter-don-t-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who judge, don't matter. People who matter, don't judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-judge-don-t-matter-people-who-matter-don-t-judge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know the people who eat my food really enjoy it, and those are the people who matter at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-porowski/i-know-the-people-who-eat-my-food-really-enjoy-it-and-those-are-the/) [Antoni Porowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-porowski/) > [“It's not goodbye,” he said. “It's more of an I'll see you around. The people who matter, the people who are meant to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-reeves/it-s-not-goodbye-he-said-it-s-more-of-an-i-ll-see-you-around-the/) [Evan Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-reeves/) > [Hollywood is a very small world; the people who matter matter, and the people who don't matter are just like nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/hollywood-is-a-very-small-world-the-people-who-matter-matter-and-the/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [We're all lost. The best chance we got is to wander this life with the people who matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/we-re-all-lost-the-best-chance-we-got-is-to-wander-this-life-with-the/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [The people who matter will recognize who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-people-who-matter-will-recognize-who-you-are/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More by John Pilger > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In the sublime days before 11 September 2001, when the powerful were routinely attacking and terrorising the weak, and those dying were black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-the-sublime-days-before-11-september-2001-when-the-powerful-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Vietnam was as much a laboratory experiment as a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/vietnam-was-as-much-a-laboratory-experiment-as-a-war/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Certainly, until there is justice for the Palestinians, there will never be any kind of stability in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/certainly-until-there-is-justice-for-the-palestinians-there-will/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/bill-clinton-persuaded-some-people-that-he-was-really-a-civilized/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the-2/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The censorship is such on television in the U.S. that films like mine don't stand a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-censorship-is-such-on-television-in-the-u-s-that-films-like-mine/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Since September 11, the Mirror has reached back to its roots, and decided, it seems, to be something of its old self again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/since-september-11-the-mirror-has-reached-back-to-its-roots-and/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Private Manning is the world's pre-eminent prisoner of conscience, having remained true to the Nuremberg principle that every soldier has the right to 'a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/private-manning-is-the-world-s-pre-eminent-prisoner-of-conscience/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The Mirror has become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-mirror-has-become-an-important-antidote-to-a-media-that-is-most/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-western-australia-minerals-are-being-dug-up-from-aboriginal-land/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Two increasing themes which appear to dominate our listening, reading and watching lives are propaganda and 'national security', or manufactured war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/two-increasing-themes-which-appear-to-dominate-our-listening-reading/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and nothing justifies the killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-these-surreal-days-there-is-one-truth-nothing-justified-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/orwell-is-almost-our-litmus-test-some-of-his-satirical-writing-looks/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) [Explore all 67 John Pilger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## More Assumption quotes > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/when-i-see-a-fan-coming-over-i-can-t-help-but-make-an-assumption/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/pussy-riot-have-certainly-changed-some-people-s-assumptions-about-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 1,277 Assumption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Journalists don't sit down and think, \"I'm now going to speak for the establishment.\" Of course not. But they internalize a whole set of assumptions, and one of the most potent assumptions is that the world should be seen in terms of its usefulness to the West, not humanity. 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