The idea of politically neutral institutions and media is a 20th century one and not something our ancestors would have acknowledged at all. In Pennsylvania until the 1910s, newspapers clearly stated their alignment with a political party or business interest and each county had several of each. Thank goodness for diversity in thinking and recording history.
In Southern Illinois, I ran across an 1840 Newspaper where the editor openly questioned whether the Irish were humans or some sort of troglodyte. In the 1850's the newspapers were openly partisan over the slavery issue. The low-key objectivity of the 1950s may have been the exception rather than the rule.
When I was growing up, Walter Cronkite was still on the air, and Edward R. Murrow's writing about objectivity was a distinct influence on how I thought the news was meant to be.
But I was a young adult when Ted Turner came along, selling "infotainment" and the fringe ideas from AM radio that "generated heat" began to take over the sober, less dynamic reporting. To our cost.
That was the beginning of the long decline of legacy media. There are writers on Substack and shit bloggers on Twitter that get more eyeballs than CNN now. I have a rule. I will watch any program or any cable station until I detect I am being gaslit. I once made it twelve minutes.
Excellent essay. After reading hundreds of nineteenth century diaries, county histories, etc. I have come to the conclusion that the most accurate accounts happen about thirty years after the events described. Enough time has passed for irrational passions to subside but not enough time for 2nd, 3rd and 4th hand accounts to obfuscate the facts.
The idea of politically neutral institutions and media is a 20th century one and not something our ancestors would have acknowledged at all. In Pennsylvania until the 1910s, newspapers clearly stated their alignment with a political party or business interest and each county had several of each. Thank goodness for diversity in thinking and recording history.
In Southern Illinois, I ran across an 1840 Newspaper where the editor openly questioned whether the Irish were humans or some sort of troglodyte. In the 1850's the newspapers were openly partisan over the slavery issue. The low-key objectivity of the 1950s may have been the exception rather than the rule.
When I was growing up, Walter Cronkite was still on the air, and Edward R. Murrow's writing about objectivity was a distinct influence on how I thought the news was meant to be.
But I was a young adult when Ted Turner came along, selling "infotainment" and the fringe ideas from AM radio that "generated heat" began to take over the sober, less dynamic reporting. To our cost.
That was the beginning of the long decline of legacy media. There are writers on Substack and shit bloggers on Twitter that get more eyeballs than CNN now. I have a rule. I will watch any program or any cable station until I detect I am being gaslit. I once made it twelve minutes.
Indeed, when were we EVER neutral? Thank you for raising the point and reminding us to pay attention to the perspective of every source we draw from.
Great insights into the uses of history. Please read.
This was a wonderful read.
Excellent essay. After reading hundreds of nineteenth century diaries, county histories, etc. I have come to the conclusion that the most accurate accounts happen about thirty years after the events described. Enough time has passed for irrational passions to subside but not enough time for 2nd, 3rd and 4th hand accounts to obfuscate the facts.