---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am old enough to think the word…"
description: "\"I am old enough to think the word 'journalist' is not all that noble a designation. Journalist - that record keeper, quote taker and processor of press..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/michael-wolff-423_ambition_i-am-old-enough-to-think-the-word-journa_64515.jpg"
---

#  I am old enough to think the word 'journalist' is not all…

![“I am old enough to think the word 'journalist' is not all that noble a designation. Journalist - that record keeper, quote taker and processor of press releases - was, in the world of letters I grew up in, a lower-down job. To be a writer - once the ambition of every journalist - was to be the…” quote by Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/michael-wolff-423_ambition_i-am-old-enough-to-think-the-word-journa_64515.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/michael-wolff-423_ambition_i-am-old-enough-to-think-the-word-journa_64515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/michael-wolff-423_ambition_i-am-old-enough-to-think-the-word-journa_64515.jpg)

> “I am old enough to think the word 'journalist' is not all that noble a designation. Journalist - that record keeper, quote taker and processor of press releases - was, in the world of letters I grew up in, a lower-down job. To be a writer - once the ambition of every journalist - was to be the greater truth teller.”

[Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker critiques the diminishing prestige of journalism, viewing it as a mechanistic role of recording and relaying information, while elevating the writer as a higher pursuit of truth.

**In simple terms:** Journalism seen as low-status, writing as truth‑seeking.

Key Takeaway

Distinguish between mere reporting and deeper truth‑telling.

Themes

Media perception Professional hierarchy Truth vs. information Journalistic identity Writer’s ambition

Mood

reflective critical contemplative

Type

opinion critique reflection

When to use this quote

- newsrooms
- press release processing
- media criticism
- career counseling
- literary circles

Key Concepts

journalism writing truth career perception

Practical Applications

- media ethics training
- career guidance for journalists

Questions to Reflect On

- What elevates a journalist to a truth‑teller?
- How does the role of a writer differ from that of a journalist?

A Different Perspective

Some argue journalism can be a noble pursuit when investigative and accountable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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