Michiko Kakutani Quotes

Journalist, in my opinion, are mediators between the Information Age and our democracy.

The media has not done a great job in fulfilling their role - journalism's role in a democracy is to provide information on profoundly important subjects so we're an informed citizenry.

People say, 'Oh, you're doing the job of journalists.' I think it's very important to note that we can't do our job without journalists. Journalists can do their job without late-night comedians. They'd be just fine without us. But we, of course, use their work every day to build our pieces.

We've lost a lot of regard for straight forward news stories, and that has then been supplemented by comment, not even analysis, which has created a lot of celebrity journalists.

I wouldn't say all journalism is activism, but I would say most journalism is activism.

I only know what I read in the papers.

One of the sad things about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters very little. The world now is almost inured to the power of journalism. The best journalism would manage to outrage people. And people are less and less inclined to outrage.

The focus of entertainment is taking away from what the public needs as news. I think investigative journalism will always be important and always find its way, be it on the Internet or wherever.

We sort of read two or three big newspapers but we don't get the flavor of the local events, the local news as much.

Journalism: A profession whose business is to explain to others what it personally does not understand.

Having been a journalist for thirty-nine years, I've developed a pretty thick skin.

Journalism makes you think fast. You have to speak to people in all walks of life. Especially local journalism.

In the New York Times, you're going to get completely different information than you would in the USA Today.

America is strong because its journalism is strong. That's how democracies work. They're only as good as the quality of the information that the public possesses. And that is where we come in.

I don't even read the newspaper; I don't read that crap.

As Americans, we rightfully place tremendous value on having a free and independent press. Our role as journalists is to give voice to the voiceless, and hold our leaders and institutions accountable. But the circle is only completed when that information is consumed by a free-thinking and engaged audience.

I think journalism is a great way to do public service, to have an impact on your community.

Whether people care enough about local news to pay for it is, sadly, an entirely different question than whether our democracy requires a strong watchdog function at the local level to ensure safeguards against abuse, chicanery, and outright dishonesty.

A lot of stories that have fascinated me are tabloid stories that have come from other newspapers, like 'The New York Times.'

I am incredibly proud of the many journalists I have worked with throughout my career and the great campaigns that we have fought and won.

Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.

People who think there is something pedestrian about journalism are just ignorant.

I don't even read the papers. I read 'USA Today' because it has color photos.

I'm a big fan of British journalists like 'The Independent's Robert Fisk, but it's hard to find voices like his in the U.S.

I think people should be consumers of journalism.