--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a reporter sits down at the…" description: "\"When a reporter sits down at the typewriter, he’s nobody’s friend.\" — Theodore White" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/theodore-white-19249_friend_when-a-reporter-sits-down-at-the-typewri_1795036.png" --- # When a reporter sits down at the typewriter, he’s nobody’s… ![“When a reporter sits down at the typewriter, he’s nobody’s friend.” quote by Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/theodore-white-19249_friend_when-a-reporter-sits-down-at-the-typewri_1795036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/theodore-white-19249_friend_when-a-reporter-sits-down-at-the-typewri_1795036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/theodore-white-19249_friend_when-a-reporter-sits-down-at-the-typewri_1795036.png) > “When a reporter sits down at the typewriter, he’s nobody’s friend.” [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Journalists maintain professional distance, avoiding personal alliances that could bias reporting. **In simple terms:** Reporters stay impartial. Key Takeaway Keep objectivity. Themes journalism ethics objectivity Mood reflective critical Type analytical ethical When to use this quote - political reporting - investigative journalism - media ethics - news coverage Key Concepts professional distance bias avoidance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth‑telling with empathy? - When is personal connection acceptable? A Different Perspective Objectivity can clash with personal relationships and trust building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Reporter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporter/) [Reporter Sits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporter-sits-1979767/) [Sits Typewriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sits-typewriter-1979766/) [Typewriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriter/) [Typewriter Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriter-friend-1979768/) [Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters/) ## Related quotes > [“There on the landing sits the typewriter. It is clogged with dust, the ribbon dried and flimsy. Looking at it gives Felix a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/there-on-the-landing-sits-the-typewriter-it-is-clogged-with-dust-the/) [Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/) > [I never had a typewriter. I never had any machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-never-had-a-typewriter-i-never-had-any-machines/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I don't have a computer. A computer's a typewriter. I already have a typewriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-don-t-have-a-computer-a-computer-s-a-typewriter-i-already-have-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You will never work through writer's block if you walk away from your typewriter. That will only make it easier to walk away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/you-will-never-work-through-writer-s-block-if-you-walk-away-from-your/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [If I had my choice, I would be writing by typewriter. I worked on newspapers for 10 years. I typed with the touch system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/if-i-had-my-choice-i-would-be-writing-by-typewriter-i-worked-on/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I talk to my typewriter and that is what I've been working on for 40 years-how to write for talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/i-talk-to-my-typewriter-and-that-is-what-i-ve-been-working-on-for-40/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [Whenever I try to do anything on a typewriter, it's like having this machine between me and the words; what comes out is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/whenever-i-try-to-do-anything-on-a-typewriter-it-s-like-having-this/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [If you give me a typewriter and I'm having a good day, I can write a scene that will astonish its readers. That will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-give-me-a-typewriter-and-i-m-having-a-good-day-i-can-write-a/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-great-fun-in-my-life-has-been-getting-up-every-morning-and/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Especially once those poetry events began, because, yeah, the stuff was still on the page, but the page was starting to spill into real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/especially-once-those-poetry-events-began-because-yeah-the-stuff-was/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I can write faster on a typewriter than you can on a computer. I do 120 words a minute, and you can't do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-can-write-faster-on-a-typewriter-than-you-can-on-a-computer-i-do/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When I write, I use an Underwood #5 made in 1920. Someone gave me an electric typewriter, but there's no use pretending you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/when-i-write-i-use-an-underwood-5-made-in-1920-someone-gave-me-an/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I publish six books a year now, which is very exciting. But it keeps me into my typewriter at all times! Now that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/i-publish-six-books-a-year-now-which-is-very-exciting-but-it-keeps-me/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [I began by doing book reviews on the typewriter and then went over to short stories on the machine, meanwhile sticking to pencil for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/i-began-by-doing-book-reviews-on-the-typewriter-and-then-went-over-to/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More by Theodore White > [Power in America today is control of the means of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/power-in-america-today-is-control-of-the-means-of-communication/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [When the bus or the plane rolled or flew through the night, they sang songs of their own composition about Mr Nixon and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/when-the-bus-or-the-plane-rolled-or-flew-through-the-night-they-sang/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [I class myself as a manual laborer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/i-class-myself-as-a-manual-laborer/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The gusto of one, the indignation of the other; the challenge of the one party, the response of the other; the eloquence and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/the-gusto-of-one-the-indignation-of-the-other-the-challenge-of-the/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [A liberal is a person who believes that water can be made to run uphill. A conservative is someone who believes everybody should pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/a-liberal-is-a-person-who-believes-that-water-can-be-made-to-run/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Those 40 or 50 national correspondents who had followed Kennedy since the beginning of his electoral exertions into the November days had become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/those-40-or-50-national-correspondents-who-had-followed-kennedy-since/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [A President and his wise men can only propose; but Congress disposes. It is when President and Congress agree that American history marches forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/a-president-and-his-wise-men-can-only-propose-but-congress-disposes/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [America is a nation created by all the hopeful wanderers of Europe, not out of geography and genetics, but out of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/america-is-a-nation-created-by-all-the-hopeful-wanderers-of-europe/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [It is almost nicer being a godfather than a father, like having white mice but making your nanny feed them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/it-is-almost-nicer-being-a-godfather-than-a-father-like-having-white/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [His passion has aroused the best and the beast in man. And the beast waited for him in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/his-passion-has-aroused-the-best-and-the-beast-in-man-and-the-beast/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [When that book came out, it was like Columbus telling about America at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/when-that-book-came-out-it-was-like-columbus-telling-about-america-at/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Politics in America is the binding secular religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/politics-in-america-is-the-binding-secular-religion/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The President's decisions make the weather, and if he is great enough, change the climate, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/the-president-s-decisions-make-the-weather-and-if-he-is-great-enough/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Always inflation comes gradually; is recognized too late; and can be cured only by ruthless political surgery, which, if delayed too long, proves futile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/always-inflation-comes-gradually-is-recognized-too-late-and-can-be/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [There are two kinds of editors, those who correct your copy and those who say it's wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/there-are-two-kinds-of-editors-those-who-correct-your-copy-and-those/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) [Explore all 33 Theodore White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) ## More Friend quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) [Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/) > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) > [That FRIEND who claim they do anything for you. but yet talk behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushsoulja/that-friend-who-claim-they-do-anything-for-you-but-yet-talk-behind/) [KushSoulja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kushsoulja/) > [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. 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