Government and press conflict not a bad thing

Apropos the ongoing conflicts between the Government and the Media, I wish to draw attention to views expressed by the journalist and long-time White House correspondent James Deakin. His comments, in the article “Straight Stuff: The Reporters, the White House and the Truth,” (reproduced in the Reader’s Digest, June 1986 issue) are very relevant:

"The Government and the Press have conflicting purposes. Their perceptions differ; they see things in different ways. But this is not a bad thing. The differences should not be reconciled. The Government should continue on its course and the media on theirs, as imperfect and unsatisfactory as these courses often are.

“Certainly there could be improvements. The Government could be less secretive and manipulative, if it chose to be. This would benefit the Nation and not harm it. The news media could be less superficial, less hasty and less sensational, if they chose to be. This also would benefit the Nation, as the Nation is superficial enough already.

“But the basic conflicts should not be removed. The Government and the Press should function at arm’s length. If they do not stay apart, if their purposes are formed into an artificial and unnatural agreement, the nation IS harmed."

By Leo A. Saluwadana, Paiyagala