The Old Evil World Reinvents Its Press   

They seem to want a few tips from us. Let's be careful.

The former Evil Empire and its former Evil Satellites are reinventing the print and broadcast press, and it is exciting to behold, with the outcome uncertain. They seem to want a few tips from us. Let's be careful.

We know they want freedom, but other aspirations are unclear. In the throes of a continuing revolution in that part of the world, less attention has been given to the legs, heartbeat and self-discipline of journalism than to its lungs and trumpet.

American journalists have a nice, warm feeling when they are envied and taken as a model. But after the basking:

Well, ah (we may find ourselves saying with an awkward clearing of the throat), you'll also need some, ah, good libel laws, and a dollop of antitrust legislation.

Of course, we have to admit that we don't know how libel would work for you folks in countries that have throttled the press and prevented it from "libeling" the protected elite, and where there are no libel lawyers in the American sense (think of it!), and no established body of law in the field and no tradition of Sixth Amendment guarantees that have to be balanced with First Amendment protections and...

Also, about that antitrust idea: Yes, we know this may be confusing in places where it's not clear who now owns a publication or broadcast station, and where regulatory law has existed mainly to limit individual freedom, not to mention that some countries are just now learning what a corporation is. So just watch out for concentrations of ownership. (Do as we say on that, not as we do.)

Here's another idea: freewheeling contributions from readers and listeners, including letters columns and "feedback" broadcasts that let it rip. Well, not totally free, of course, because of those new libel laws you'll be getting, and maybe you'll need to edit contributions for length and taste, and perhaps have a rule against quoting a lot of poetry in the letters, or using long biblical quotations, and, let's see...

Also, you need aggressive advertising departments that show the customers how to sell their products and promote their images. But, ah, don't make them so aggressive that they try to influence how news stories are handled. And, now that the Karl Marx Rehabilitation Center is being converted into the Sunnyside Country Club, you should make sure the publisher doesn't get too awfully chummy with the advertisers, and...

Now, about the objectivity thing.

Yes, we know that some of you – journalists who formerly gave voice to The Authorized Version, and who see yourselves as thoughtful intellectuals who should emphasize your opinions rather than spend a lot of time gathering information – do not prefer our norms for objectivity.

But we're delighted that some of you want more of it. Yes, objectivity: the first step beyond censorship and self-conscious ideological control.

Of course, now you have to be conscious of the unconscious controls that keep us from getting objective results. Our own assumptions, for instance. And the standards we accept for how a news story is to be written "professionally." And the rules we follow for gathering news, if we are true objectivity seekers.

And. Well.

Good luck over there. l