---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that the failure of newspaper…"
description: "\"I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a community is a very serious handicap to the dissemination of the knowledge that the citizens nee..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png"
---

#  I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a…

![“I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a community is a very serious handicap to the dissemination of the knowledge that the citizens need to participate in a democracy.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png)

> “I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a community is a very serious handicap to the dissemination of the knowledge that the citizens need to participate in a democracy.”

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

## About This Quote

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

Newspaper competition is crucial for a well‑informed citizenry in a democracy.

**In simple terms:** Competition ensures diverse news for democracy.

Key Takeaway

Support diverse media sources.

Themes

democracy media knowledge citizen engagement

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- community journalism
- media literacy
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

pluralism information access public discourse

Questions to Reflect On

- How can communities foster healthy media competition?
- What role does digital media play today?

A Different Perspective

Competition can be limited by market forces.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/)

## Related quotes

> [Let's summon the courage to insist on a minimal level of civic knowledge for the citizens empowered to decide our fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/let-s-summon-the-courage-to-insist-on-a-minimal-level-of-civic/)

[Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/)

> [“Because our current educational system now graduates students lacking even minimal historical knowledge, citizens are misled by outlandish charges Modernists make about not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barton/because-our-current-educational-system-now-graduates-students-lacking/)

[David Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barton/)

> [...International education cannot be the work of one country. It is the responsibility and promise of all nations. It calls for free exchange and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/international-education-cannot-be-the-work-of-one-country-it-is-the/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [Participate in our democracy. America is a great country. Vote to keep it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/participate-in-our-democracy-america-is-a-great-country-vote-to-keep/)

[Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/)

> [We need to encourage people to speak up, to speak out, because the more people who participate in our democracy, the more our democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-victor-dixon/we-need-to-encourage-people-to-speak-up-to-speak-out-because-the-more/)

[Brandon Victor Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-victor-dixon/)

> [Whether it is access to voting rights, representation in government, or the outsized influence of money in our political system, the opportunity to interact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/whether-it-is-access-to-voting-rights-representation-in-government-or/)

[Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/)

> [I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-believe-that-everyone-should-participate-in-democracy-and-enjoy/)

[David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/)

> [Nations are divided, but we citizens need not be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-goldin/nations-are-divided-but-we-citizens-need-not-be/)

[Ian Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-goldin/)

> [All of us, as citizens, need to kind of get over our classisms and vote for the betterment of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/all-of-us-as-citizens-need-to-kind-of-get-over-our-classisms-and-vote/)

[Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/)

> [“But the “seeing” needs to flow in both directions. Citizens also need to really see the men and women of law enforcement. They need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/but-the-seeing-needs-to-flow-in-both-directions-citizens-also-need-to/)

[Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/)

> [They are very brave when they talk about other countries where they have no competencies, but where are they when we citizens need them?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/they-are-very-brave-when-they-talk-about-other-countries-where-they/)

[Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/)

> [Individual actions are important because in any democracy, citizens need to feel agency. If you feel powerless, totally powerless, it's psychologically dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/individual-actions-are-important-because-in-any-democracy-citizens/)

[Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/)

> [“Therefore, a wise prince must think of a method by which his citizens will need the state and himself at all times and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-a-wise-prince-must-think-of-a-method-by-which-his-citizens/)

[Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [It can sound trite if you just say citizens need to be educated for democracy to work, but for him it wasn't trite. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rosen/it-can-sound-trite-if-you-just-say-citizens-need-to-be-educated-for/)

[Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rosen/)

> [“a man can be human only under human conditions.” The purpose of the state is to preserve these conditions, so that its citizens need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/a-man-can-be-human-only-under-human-conditions-the-purpose-of-the/)

[Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/)

## More by Walter Cronkite

> [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

[Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

## More Community quotes

> [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/)

[Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/)

[Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/)

> [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/)

[Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/)

> [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/)

[Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/)

[Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/)

[Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/)

[Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a community is a very serious handicap to the dissemination of the knowledge that the citizens need to participate in a democracy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Walter Cronkite"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-competition-in-a-community-is-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Community"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-competition-in-a-community-is-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/walter-cronkite-1759_community_i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-co_2702786.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think that the failure of newspaper competition in a community is a very serious handicap to the…” — Walter Cronkite",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Walter Cronkite",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think that the failure of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-competition-in-a-community-is-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-that-the-failure-of-newspaper-competition-in-a-community-is-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
