Business Quote by Neil Postman
“TV serves us most usefully when presenting junk-entertainment; it serves us most ill when it co-opts serious modes of discourse - news, politics, science, education, commerce, religion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman, 1985
Media that entertains trivializes serious discourse, while serious topics become diluted when presented as entertainment.
In simple terms: Entertainment dilutes serious content.
Guard the integrity of serious discourse.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- newsrooms
- political debates
- science lectures
- educational seminars
- commercial advertising
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect serious discourse from entertainment framing?
- What standards should separate news from junk?
Even serious topics can be co-opted, reducing depth and credibility.