--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The profession of journalism ought to be…" description: "\"The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know.\" — Walter Cronkite" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png" --- # The profession of journalism ought to be about telling… ![“The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png) > “The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know.” [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. Journalism should prioritize essential truth over audience preference, ensuring informed citizens. **In simple terms:** Tell needed facts, not just popular ones. Key Takeaway Focus on truth over popularity. Themes ethics information public duty Mood serious reflective Type ethical professional When to use this quote - newsrooms - public policy debates - educational curricula Key Concepts journalistic responsibility media integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth with audience interest? - What facts are essential for democracy? A Different Perspective Audience demand can pressure sensationalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) ## Related quotes > [I wrote for a weekly magazine and then edited a literary magazine, but I did not really feel comfortable with the profession of journalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/i-wrote-for-a-weekly-magazine-and-then-edited-a-literary-magazine-but/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) > [The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-is-what-ought-to-be-true-is-2/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The whole point to American journalism is what ought to be true is true. Since I ought to be arrogant, impressed with my social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-whole-point-to-american-journalism-is-what-ought-to-be-true-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I exaggerate when I’m angry, but I’ve never gone around telling people things that aren’t true about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-exaggerate-when-i-m-angry-but-i-ve-never-gone-around-telling-people/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I see people who work on their look and they work on their poster and their website and you know, the music will speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaki-king/i-see-people-who-work-on-their-look-and-they-work-on-their-poster-and/) [Kaki King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaki-king/) > [I'm not averse to telling people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-m-not-averse-to-telling-people-off/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [The only thing better than being with you is telling people about you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz/the-only-thing-better-than-being-with-you-is-telling-people-about-you/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz/) > [Writing is just my first love. And I still have some issues with telling people what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-silverman/writing-is-just-my-first-love-and-i-still-have-some-issues-with/) [Allison Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-silverman/) > [When I was with Ellen, I was telling people, If you come out, it's gonna be better for you. But I honestly don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/when-i-was-with-ellen-i-was-telling-people-if-you-come-out-it-s-gonna/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [Sarcasm helps keep you from telling people what you really think of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sarcasm-helps-keep-you-from-telling-people-what-you-really-think-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think it's my personality to be going around telling people what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-don-t-think-it-s-my-personality-to-be-going-around-telling-people/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I was telling some people in my dressing room some of my other stories, my psychotic break, and blah, blah, blah, and no, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-was-telling-some-people-in-my-dressing-room-some-of-my-other/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [If you're going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth... you've got to be honest. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/if-you-re-going-to-be-in-the-business-of-news-and-telling-people-the/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I want people to have a good impression of Israel. I don't feel like I'm an ambassador for my country, but I do talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/i-want-people-to-have-a-good-impression-of-israel-i-don-t-feel-like-i/) [Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/) > [I certainly wouldn't feel safe telling people I was writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/i-certainly-wouldn-t-feel-safe-telling-people-i-was-writer/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) ## 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 Citizenship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Encouraging Robert E. Lee to take a job as college president, "You might be presenting to the world in such a position an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nelson-pendleton/encouraging-robert-e-lee-to-take-a-job-as-college-president-you-might/) William Nelson Pendleton > [“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ickes/what-constitutes-an-american-not-color-nor-race-nor-religion-not-the/) Harold Ickes > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people's confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/strengthening-our-identity-is-one-way-of-reinforcing-people-s/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 793 Citizenship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Cronkite" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be-about-telling-people-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizenship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be-about-telling-people-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/walter-cronkite-1759_citizenship_the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be_1900069.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to…” — 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": "The profession of journalism ought to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be-about-telling-people-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-profession-of-journalism-ought-to-be-about-telling-people-what/#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 } } ] } ```