--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about being a print…" description: "\"The great thing about being a print journalist is that you are permitted to duck. Cameramen get killed while the writers are flat on the floor. A war c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/p-j-o-rourke-184_alive_the-great-thing-about-being-a-print-jour_111892.png" --- # The great thing about being a print journalist is that you… ![“The great thing about being a print journalist is that you are permitted to duck. Cameramen get killed while the writers are flat on the floor. A war correspondent for the BBC dedicated his memoir to 50 fallen colleagues, and I guarantee you they were all taking pictures. I am only alive because I…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/p-j-o-rourke-184_alive_the-great-thing-about-being-a-print-jour_111892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/p-j-o-rourke-184_alive_the-great-thing-about-being-a-print-jour_111892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/p-j-o-rourke-184_alive_the-great-thing-about-being-a-print-jour_111892.png) > “The great thing about being a print journalist is that you are permitted to duck. Cameramen get killed while the writers are flat on the floor. A war correspondent for the BBC dedicated his memoir to 50 fallen colleagues, and I guarantee you they were all taking pictures. I am only alive because I am such a chicken.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## 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 satirically contrasts the safety of journalists who can hide with the lethal risk faced by camera crews, highlighting the absurdity of war reporting roles. **In simple terms:** War journalists are safer because they can duck; photographers are exposed. Key Takeaway Risk distribution in conflict zones is uneven. Themes war reporting satire risk media ethics courage Mood wry ironic critical Type satirical quote war commentary When to use this quote - embedded reporters in combat - photojournalists covering protests - documentary crews in disaster zones Key Concepts the paradox of visibility the cost of documentation Practical Applications - balance safety protocols for all crew members - rotate assignments to share risk Questions to Reflect On - How does media framing affect public perception of danger? - What responsibilities do news outlets have to protect all contributors? A Different Perspective The joke downplays genuine danger journalists face, potentially minimizing the seriousness of their sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Cameraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameraman/) [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Dedicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedicated/) [Ducks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ducks/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Taking pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-pictures/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you're a war correspondent, the reader is for you because the reader is saying, 'Gee, I wouldn't want to be doing that.' They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/when-you-re-a-war-correspondent-the-reader-is-for-you-because-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [As a print journalist, you can be frustrated by people who don't call you back, parts of the story you can't get. TV gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/as-a-print-journalist-you-can-be-frustrated-by-people-who-don-t-call/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [Personally, as a print journalist, I always found the most interesting stories to be the ones hacks talked about in the bar after work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-denton/personally-as-a-print-journalist-i-always-found-the-most-interesting/) [Nick Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-denton/) > [I was working as a print journalist before I gave broadcasting a go, and spent years behind the camera in production while building up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-was-working-as-a-print-journalist-before-i-gave-broadcasting-a-go/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [I have been a print journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/i-have-been-a-print-journalist/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Being a famous print journalist is like being the best-dressed woman on radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/being-a-famous-print-journalist-is-like-being-the-best-dressed-woman/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I have to admit that the empty prestige and the stupid glory - yes, the horrible rush, the deadly sense of importance that war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/i-have-to-admit-that-the-empty-prestige-and-the-stupid-glory-yes-the/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [I was a war correspondent in Korea. I did a book on it: 'This is War.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/i-was-a-war-correspondent-in-korea-i-did-a-book-on-it-this-is-war/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [As a war correspondent, you have to weigh the risk you run against the story you can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asne-seierstad/as-a-war-correspondent-you-have-to-weigh-the-risk-you-run-against-the/) [Asne Seierstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asne-seierstad/) > [The war correspondent has his stake - his life - in his own hands, and he can put it on this horse or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capa/the-war-correspondent-has-his-stake-his-life-in-his-own-hands-and-he/) [Robert Capa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capa/) > [For a war correspondent to miss an invasion is like refusing a date with Lana Turner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capa/for-a-war-correspondent-to-miss-an-invasion-is-like-refusing-a-date/) [Robert Capa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capa/) > [It wasn't something I started off in my teens or early twenties thinking I want to be a war correspondent. I still don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farrell/it-wasn-t-something-i-started-off-in-my-teens-or-early-twenties/) Stephen Farrell > [I had no desire to go to Iraq. I never wanted to go to Mosul. I'm not a war correspondent. No part of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-dooley/i-had-no-desire-to-go-to-iraq-i-never-wanted-to-go-to-mosul-i-m-not-a/) [Stacey Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-dooley/) > [I would say that the war correspondent gets more drinks, more girls, better pay, and greater freedom than the soldier, but at this stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capa/i-would-say-that-the-war-correspondent-gets-more-drinks-more-girls/) [Robert Capa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capa/) > [On the flip side, I enjoy covering the Arab world, I've spent my entire career here in the Middle East, but I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-shadid/on-the-flip-side-i-enjoy-covering-the-arab-world-i-ve-spent-my-entire/) [Anthony Shadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-shadid/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. 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O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. 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"That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great thing about being a print journalist is that you are permitted to duck. Cameramen get killed while the writers are flat on the floor. A war correspondent for the BBC dedicated his memoir to 50 fallen colleagues, and I guarantee you they were all taking pictures. I am only alive because I am such a chicken.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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