“Journalism is writing that first appears in any periodic journal.”

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 9, Nonfiction as Literature, p. 61.

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William Zinsser30

writer, editor, journalist, literary critic, professor 1922–2015

William McKeen (1954) American academic

Source: Outlaw Journalist (2008), Chapter 5, Observer, p. 73
Context: In these letters to Ridley, Hunters Gonzo style began to rear its head. One of the characteristics of the style Hunter developed was his preoccupation of getting the story. In fact, getting the story became the story. His writing could be classified as metajournalism, journalism about the process of journalism.

“His journalism was usually about journalism: no matter what he started out off writing about, he ended up writing about Hunter Thompson trying to cover a story.”

William McKeen (1954) American academic

Preface, The End, p. xv
Outlaw Journalist (2008)

“American journalism (like the journalism of any other country) is predominantly paltry and worthless. Its pretensions are enormous, but its achievements are insignificant.”

H.L. Mencken (1880–1956) American journalist and writer

“The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

Source: Miscellaneous Aphorisms; The Soul of Man

“The First Law of Journalism: to confirm existing prejudice, rather than contradict it.”

Alexander Cockburn (1941–2012) Leftist journalist and writer

More magazine (1974).

“Journalism has become a great god of the period, and gods have a way of ruthlessly and demonically taking over their servitors.”

William Barrett (philosopher) book Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy

Source: Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy (1958), Chapter Two, The Encounter With Nothingness, p. 27

“[On the GamerGate Controversy]: Ethics in journalism is not what's happening, in any way.”

Anita Sarkeesian (1983) American blogger

The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 2014)

“The best fiction is far more true than any journalism.”

William Faulkner (1897–1962) American writer

“I wish I could [keep a journal]. I have a lot of journals with one page half written in. I sometimes will write myself a quick email on my Blackberry when I think of something.”

Louis C.K. (1967) American comedian and actor

“You should be proud of your profession because there's less lying in journalism than in any other profession. They lie in education, they lie in politics, they lie in banking, they lie in labor; there's liars all over the place. Sports? Full of liars. And there are liars in journalism, but if there are liars, journalism will out them.”

Gay Talese (1932) American writer

In an interview with David L. Ulin to Los Angeles Times - Gay Talese talks with David L. Ulin http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/10/gay-talese-talks-with-david-l-ulin.html (October 15, 2010)

“Journalism is writing that first appears in any periodic journal.”

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William Zinsser30

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