Editorial Judgment and Unavoidable Value Choices

by | Quotes

“It is not … a question of slanting the news. Almost every story worth reporting requires the reporter to adopt some ‘theory’ of its thrust that will enable him or her to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant and the important from the unimportant. Quite often this process will involve value judgments as to which individuals may and do differ. There is no reason why this ought to dismay or perplex any fair editor; he will merely see to it that personal biases don’t get out of control, and that the mix of stories (and thus ‘theories’) ultimately presented to the reader or viewer is reasonably well balanced.”

Source: The Coming Battle for the Media: Curbing the Power of the Media Elite (1988).

Keywords: media bias, public-discourse, debate, governance

Author

  • William A. Rusher (1923–2011), publisher of National Review (1957–1988), was a leading conservative spokesman, columnist, and author. He helped draft Barry Goldwater for the 1964 GOP nomination, shaping the party’s future. A Princeton and Harvard Law graduate, he served in WWII, worked in law, and advised the U.S. Senate. In 1989, he became a Distinguished Fellow at the Claremont Institute and remained active in conservative circles until his passing in 2011.

    View all posts

Recent Articles

A Model of Political Effectiveness: How Rusher Did It

William Rusher strengthened the conservative movement as an energizing leader, a formidable debater, an incisive columnist, and an engaged mentor who made things happen.  His success in these multiple roles makes his career a rich lesson in political...

Quotes on Progressivism: Definitions and Distinctions

Gathered and prepared by David Frisk “What, then, is progressivism? … we can think of it as an argument to progress, or to move beyond, the political principles of the American founding. It is an argument to enlarge vastly the scope of national government for the...

The Quotable Bill Rusher Part 2: From His Books

Special Counsel (1968) “… a steady diet of political infighting tends to coarsen, and ultimately to cheapen, most participants. They approach politics as reasonably honorable citizens, and by imperceptible degrees it sucks them into its vortex. The plainly right...

Rusher at 100: Realism for the 21st Century

(June 23, 2023—revised December 21, 2023) William Rusher, a dynamic force on the American right who passed away in 2011 after decades as comrade and mentor to many conservatives, was born a full century ago on July 19, 1923. His centenary comes at a hard time for...

“If Not Us, Who?”

If Not Us, Who? takes you on a journey into the life of William Rusher, a key player in shaping the modern conservative movement. Known for his long stint as the publisher of National Review, Rusher wasn't just a publisher—he was a crucial strategist and thinker in...

Book Presentation: “If Not Us, Who?” by David B. Frisk

Click to watch the presentation of "If Not Us, Who?" by David Frisk to the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC on C-SPAN. David Frisk's book, If Not Us, Who?: William Rusher, 'National Review,' and the Conservative Movement, offers a comprehensive exploration of the...

Contact Us