---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've thought for years that newspapers…"
description: "\"I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned by nonprofits.\" — Molly Ivins"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png"
---

#  I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned…

![“I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned by nonprofits.” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png)

> “I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned by nonprofits.”

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

## About This Quote

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

She argues that media should be run as public trusts rather than profit-driven enterprises.

**In simple terms:** Newspapers should be nonprofit.

Key Takeaway

Support nonprofit journalism.

Themes

media reform public trust democracy

Mood

critical hopeful

Type

advocacy political

When to use this quote

- local news
- investigative reporting
- community funding

Key Concepts

nonprofit ownership media ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How would nonprofit ownership change news coverage?
- What challenges face nonprofit media?

A Different Perspective

Profit motives can limit editorial independence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Newspapers Owned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers-owned-1919621/) [Nonprofits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonprofits/) [Owned Nonprofits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owned-nonprofits-3315925/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-newspapers-3315926/)

## Related quotes

> [As people get their opinions so largely from the newspapers they read... But the Press is not free, the newspapers are owned by rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-people-get-their-opinions-so-largely-from-the-newspapers-they-read/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [“Newspapers are owned and published by rich men. Rich men all belong to the same club. Sure, there’s competition—hard tough competition for circulation, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/newspapers-are-owned-and-published-by-rich-men-rich-men-all-belong-to/)

[Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/)

> [As people get their opinions so largely from the newspapers they read, the corruption of the schools would not matter so much if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-people-get-their-opinions-so-largely-from-the-newspapers-they-read-2/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [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/)

> [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

> [I believe that a newspaper is a great civic asset and that ownership is best in the hands of foundations or wealthy families that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-believe-that-a-newspaper-is-a-great-civic-asset-and-that-ownership/)

[Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/)

> [Every newspaper editor says the heart of the paper is the reporter - which is true - except for the pay!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/every-newspaper-editor-says-the-heart-of-the-paper-is-the-reporter/)

[Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/)

> [Most newspaper companies still have their heads in the sand, but other media companies are aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/most-newspaper-companies-still-have-their-heads-in-the-sand-but-other/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [ \[The web\] is going to end up being a tremendous advantage, providing we can work out the financial structure. I think we’ll see newspapers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-web-is-going-to-end-up-being-a-tremendous-advantage-providing-we/)

[Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/)

> [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/)

[Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/)

> [This thing that Colin Powell's son is expected to do is kind of scary when you think that television and radio and newspapers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mckay/this-thing-that-colin-powell-s-son-is-expected-to-do-is-kind-of-scary/)

[Jim McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mckay/)

> [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The reason we have not gone to newspapers is because its a slow growth industry and I think they are dying. I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-reason-we-have-not-gone-to-newspapers-is-because-its-a-slow/)

[Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/)

> [Newspapers have an extraordinary amount of local content, including real estate listings and restaurant reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbal-musk/newspapers-have-an-extraordinary-amount-of-local-content-including/)

[Kimbal Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbal-musk/)

> [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

## More by Molly Ivins

> [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [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/)

> [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

[Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

## More Journalism quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/)

[Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/)

> [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [Newspapers have an extraordinary amount of local content, including real estate listings and restaurant reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbal-musk/newspapers-have-an-extraordinary-amount-of-local-content-including/)

[Kimbal Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbal-musk/)

> [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/)

[Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/)

> [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/)

[Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/)

> [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/)

[Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/)

> [People think they're getting objective information, but they're not. They're getting news wrapped up in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-samuels/people-think-they-re-getting-objective-information-but-they-re-not/)

[Lynn Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-samuels/)

[Browse all 8,189 Journalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned by nonprofits.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Molly Ivins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-should-all-be-owned-by/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Journalism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-should-all-be-owned-by/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/molly-ivins-1296_journalism_i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-s_361163.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've thought for years that newspapers should all be owned by nonprofits.” — Molly Ivins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Molly Ivins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've thought for years that newspapers...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-should-all-be-owned-by/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-ve-thought-for-years-that-newspapers-should-all-be-owned-by/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
