---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When 'The Washington Post' ran the first…"
description: "\"When 'The Washington Post' ran the first national story about FBI profiling in 1984, no one outside of law enforcement recognized the term.\" — Ronald K..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/ronald-kessler-13022_law_when-the-washington-post-ran-the-first-n_1833356.jpg"
---

#  When 'The Washington Post' ran the first national story…

![“When 'The Washington Post' ran the first national story about FBI profiling in 1984, no one outside of law enforcement recognized the term.” quote by Ronald Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/ronald-kessler-13022_law_when-the-washington-post-ran-the-first-n_1833356.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/ronald-kessler-13022_law_when-the-washington-post-ran-the-first-n_1833356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/ronald-kessler-13022_law_when-the-washington-post-ran-the-first-n_1833356.jpg)

> “When 'The Washington Post' ran the first national story about FBI profiling in 1984, no one outside of law enforcement recognized the term.”

[Ronald Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-kessler/)

## About This Quote

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

The concept of FBI profiling was unknown to the public until a major newspaper highlighted it, showing how media can introduce specialized terms to mainstream awareness.

**In simple terms:** Media introduced a new term to the public.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the role of media in shaping public knowledge.

Themes

media law enforcement public awareness communication

Mood

informative thoughtful

Type

educational informative

When to use this quote

- journalism education
- law enforcement training
- public policy debates
- media literacy programs

Key Concepts

profiling information diffusion public perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How does media exposure change public understanding of specialized concepts?
- What responsibilities do journalists have when introducing technical terms?

A Different Perspective

The term may have been known in niche circles before, limiting its broader impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[1984 Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1984-outside-2292553/) [Fbi Profiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fbi-profiling-2292551/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-story-1827985/) [Profiling 1984](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profiling-1984-2292552/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Fbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-fbi-2292550/)

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