Newton N. Minow Quotes

Newton Norman "Newt" Minow is an American attorney and former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission. His speech referring to television as a "vast wasteland" is cited even as the speech has passed its 55th anniversary. While still maintaining a law practice, Minow is currently the Honorary Consul General of Singapore in Chicago.Minow has been active in Democratic party politics. He is an influential attorney in private practice concerning telecommunications law and is active in many nonprofit, civic, and educational institutions. Barack Obama named him a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for 2016. Wikipedia  

✵ 17. January 1926
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Newton N. Minow: 6   quotes 0   likes

Famous Newton N. Minow Quotes

“I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland.”

Speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, May 9, 1961 (the Wasteland Speech)
Context: When television is good, nothing--not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers--nothing is better.
But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you--and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland.

“Never have so few owed so much to so many.”

Speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, May 9, 1961 (the Wasteland Speech)

“To quarrel over the past is to lose the future.”

Speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, May 9, 1961 (the Wasteland Speech)

“What do we mean by "the public interest?" Some say the public interest is merely what interests the public. I disagree.”

Speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, May 9, 1961 (the Wasteland Speech)

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