Dan Rather Quotes

We don't go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.

The most important responsibility we have as journalists is to question those who are in power. I honestly believe that.

I think the media's responsibility is to get to the bottom of things - to get to the truth.

The job of the press is to encourage debate, not to supply the public with information.

Where are reliable journalism and reliable investigative voices going to come from? I love the days of old - the Walter Cronkites, the Dan Rathers.

Most reporters who come to me get their stories directly from press releases. Very few do what one would consider to be their professional duty.

I'm not seeing tough questions asked on American television. I'm not seeing those correspondents that would question those in power. It's like a club. We are not asking the tough questions.

Seeking of the truth should be not only part of the Justice Department and part of our judicial system, but also should be... a goal of reporters today.

Nothing is more idealistic than a journalist on the defensive.

Journalists are supposed to be skeptical, that's what keeps them digging rather than simply accepting the official line, whether it comes from government or corporate bureaucrats.

I think documentary filmmakers need as much protection as possible under journalist's privilege. How else is the public to know what is going on?

The newspapers turn a blind eye to how they get their material as long as they have great photographs.

A good journalist is not the one that writes what people say, but the one that writes what he is supposed to write.

The best definition of journalism I have heard; to challenge authority - all authority - especially so when governments and politicians take us to war, when they have decided that they will kill and others will die.

Journalists like to give themselves credit for being on the hunt for 'the truth.' But if we embrace this undoubtedly noble but somewhat haughty interpretation of a calling, we inevitably become susceptible to slam dunk answers.

I don't want to paint everybody with the same broad brush. But I do think that the majority of folks now in the briefing room, that are going into journalism - they're not there for the facts and the pursuit of the truth.

One of the great things about journalism, at its best I mean, is its forensic, investigative truth seeking instincts.

We need journalists to be fearless and hold power to account.

Now everybody is questioning everything, so it's up to journalists who really care about the truth to fight for their corner of the truth and journalistic freedom.

I would love for us to get back to a place in this country where we have real journalists, where we have real news reporting.

If an investigative reporter finds out that someone has been robbing the store, that may be 'gotcha' journalism, but it's also good journalism.

Journalism is the protection between people and any sort of totalitarian rule. That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.

To newspapers and publishing houses I urge the use of fact over fiction, freedom of the press, and responsibility at all times.

The media's job is to question a premise.

A free, analytical and questioning press must be helped survive.