"This might just do nobody any good.
At the end of this discourse a few people may accuse this reporter of fouling his own comfortable nest and your organization may be accused of having given hospitality to heretical and even dangerous ideas. But the elaborate structure of networks, advertising agencies, and sponsors will not be shaken or altered. It is my desire, if not my duty, to try to talk to you journeymen with some candor about what is happening to radio and television. And if what I say is responsible, I alone am responsible for the saying of it. Our history will be what we make of it. And if there are any historians about 50 or 100 years from now and there should be preserved the kinescopes of one week of all three networks they will there find recorded in black and white, and in color evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. We are currently wealthy, fat, comfortable, and complacent. We have a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main (stream) is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it and those who work at it may see a totally different picture too late...
I began by saying that our history will be what we make it. If we go on as we are then history will take its revenge,and retribution will not limp in catching up with us. Just once in a while, let us exalt the importance of ideas and information...
To those who say, "People wouldn't look, they wouldn't be interested they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated" I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach. It can illuminate and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends. Otherwise, it is merely wiresand lights in a box.
Good night, and good luck.
October 25th 1958
At the Radio-Television News Directors' Association and Foundation Honorary Award Ceremony
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One of the few inspirations for pursuing journalism.
(Will begin retro-posting about my travels and other writings soon.)
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