Tom Heinsohn Quotes

I'd never compromise my position as a journalist by having a friendly relationship with a politician.

Neither side is guiltless if its adversary is appointed judge.

And you can't really cover people critically that you're friends with.

Journalists aren't supposed to be cheerleaders.

Most people don't actually like the press. The friend of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.

I'm not in the judgment part of journalism.

I'm a little concerned about this notion everybody wants us to be objective.

Because appearing to be fair is part of being fair, most mainstream news organizations discourage marching for causes, displaying political bumper stickers or giving cash to candidates.

I don't know if there's such a thing as objectivity.

It's the nature of journalism to need to be close to your subjects. And either you're able to be tough on them, which a lot of us are, or you get in bed with them, and some people do.

It's not a good thing to be friends with people you're covering. There's just no point in doing it. It's tempting, but they're not going to consider you their friend anyway. They just know that you're somebody that can do something for them.

I want the news delivered unbiased. I thought that was the whole point with journalism.

Journalists hold themselves apart, and above, the common person. They have rules designed to ensure their objectivity and impartiality.

Recognizing truth requires selflessness. You have to leave yourself out of it so you can find out the way things are in themselves, not the way they look to you or how you feel about them or how you would like them to be.

I'm very partisan, but I'm also very fair.

It is unsound for an independent editor to be a financial contributor to any cause which would cause any type of special pleading.

Anybody who doesn't think I want the Lakers to win is a fool. But I'm no homer.

Nobody outside of a baby carriage or a judge's chamber believes in an unprejudiced point of view.

Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, my side, and the truth.

I would draw a really big distinction between competition, or potential competition, and a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest implies wrongdoing, whereas competition is really healthy.

I am not a rabid partisan.

No one is a good judge in his own cause.

No man must be Judge who propounds unto himself any hope of profit, or glory, from the victory of either party.

Objectivity in the end is an unattainable ideal.

It is not permitted to the most equitable of men to be a judge in his own cause.