Face value Quote by Michael Wolff
““An important aspect of Kaplan’s New York Observer and its self-conscious inside media baseball was that the paper became the prime school for a new generation of media reporters flooding every other publication in New York as journalism itself became ever more self-conscious and self-referential. To everyone working in media in New York, Donald Trump represented the ultimate shame of working in media in New York: you might have to write about Donald Trump. Not writing about him, or certainly not taking him at face value, became a moral stand.””
About This Quote
The quote highlights how New York journalism became self‑absorbed, using Trump coverage as a litmus test for integrity, where avoiding or questioning him became a moral stance.
In simple terms: Media self‑reference and moral positioning
Key Takeaway
Trump coverage became a journalistic moral test
Themes
media self‑awareness
journalistic ethics
political coverage
New York press culture
self‑referential journalism
Mood
critical
reflective
cynical
Type
analytical
observational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- reporters deciding whether to cover Trump
- newsrooms debating editorial stance
- journalists facing pressure to conform
- media professionals reflecting on integrity
Key Concepts
journalism
political bias
ethical standards
media ecosystems
Practical Applications
- media ethics training
- newsroom policy development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑referential coverage affect public trust?
- Can moral stances be objectively defined in journalism?
A Different Perspective
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