The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism
Published in 1919, 'The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism' by Upton Sinclair is a muckraking exposé that critiques the American journalism industry. Sinclair argues that newspapers and wire services prioritize the financial interests of their owners over the public interest, often fabricating stories and suppressing dissenting voices. The book draws on personal experiences and documented cases to highlight the systemic issues within the media, proposing radical reforms such as legal changes and unionization for journalists. Notably, Sinclair likens journalists to prostitutes, emphasizing the exploitative nature of the profession.
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“In every newspaper-office in America the same struggle between the business-office and the news-department is going on all the time.””
— Romain Rolland
“Newspapermen are human, and cannot be blamed by their owners if now and then they yield to the temptation to publish the news.””
— Romain Rolland
“In England where the radicals were allowed to gather in Hyde Park and say what they chose, crimes of political violence were practically unknown. On the other hand, in America, where it was customary for the police to arrest radicals and club and jail them, such crimes were common.””
— Romain Rolland
“Love of children--ah, yes, all scandal-bureaus know what that means!””
— Romain Rolland
“In any competitive society, woman is necessarily condemned to a position of inferiority by the burdens of maternity.””
— Romain Rolland
“Mark Twain, I believe, is author of the saying that a lie can run all the way round the earth while the truth is putting on its””
— Romain Rolland
“We have a flabby public opinion which would wring its hands in anguish if we took the labor leader by the scruff of his neck, backed him up against a wall, and filled him with lead. Countries which consider themselves every bit as civilized as we do not hesitate about such matters for a moment. Whenever””
— Romain Rolland
“The American people thoroughly despise and hate their newspapers; yet they seem to have no idea what to do about it, and take it for granted that they must go on reading falsehoods for the balance of their days!””
— Romain Rolland
“Now I ask you: could any muck-raker in a rage make up a list of titles more completely expressive of vulgarity, commercialism and general “bunk” than the above real ones? I””
— Romain Rolland
