Advantage Quote by Walter Cronkite
“It is a seldom proffered argument as to the advantages of a free press that it has a major function in keeping the government itself informed as to what the government is doing.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Free Press, Walter Cronkite, 1972
A free press not only informs the public but also serves as a feedback channel to the government about its own actions.
In simple terms: Press informs both public and government.
Key Takeaway
Use media to hold officials accountable.
Themes
freedom of press
government accountability
transparency
Mood
critical
informed
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- journalism
- policy making
- civic engagement
- government reporting
Key Concepts
democracy
media ethics
public oversight
Questions to Reflect On
- How can journalists ensure independence?
- What mechanisms keep government responsive to media?
A Different Perspective
The press may be limited by censorship or corporate control.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
