America 1929: John F. Kennedy, the Great Writer

The auditorium at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism was packed.

Not only were all the seats full, but the aisles and back rows were also packed with people.

In addition to students from the School of Journalism, there were students from other departments, and even some observers who came from other universities.

Dean Williams stood on the podium, looking around the crowded auditorium, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Students, we are honored to have Mr. Arthur Kennedy with us today. I think everyone here has read his articles." His voice resounded throughout the auditorium through the loudspeaker.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, but some boos were also heard.

Williams continued:

"Mr. Kennedy's work has been very controversial. Some people support him, and some people criticize him. But regardless of your position, I hope everyone can listen carefully and think rationally today."

"Now, let's welcome Mr. Arthur Kennedy."

Arthur walked up to the podium through the side door. He was wearing a dark blue suit, looking more formal than usual, but still relaxed.

The applause rang out again, this time even more enthusiastic, but the boos were also louder.

Arthur walked to the podium, but did not begin his speech immediately. Instead, he stood there quietly, waiting for the applause and boos to subside.

The auditorium gradually quieted down.

"Thank you, Dean Williams, for the introduction. And thank you everyone here, whether you're here to support me or to see me make a fool of myself."

A burst of laughter came from the audience.

"I know there are a lot of people criticizing me. They say I'm not a news editor, I'm a playwright. They say I should be on Broadway, not in journalism."

"To be honest, I have considered it."

Another burst of laughter followed.

"Broadway's revenue should be higher than that of the New York Herald," Arthur said with a laugh.

"But the problem is, Broadway audiences need to buy tickets. Newspaper readers only need to spend a few cents. I wanted more people to see what I wrote, so I chose journalism."

The laughter gradually subsided, and the students began to listen to him attentively.

"I don't intend to give a long speech today. Because I know that many of you have already read the articles criticizing me. Those articles are very long, very detailed, and seem to make a lot of sense."

"It would be too boring for me to give a long speech and refute them in the same way."

"So I'd like to try a different approach. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

He paused for a moment and looked around the room.

"First question: What is news?"

A boy sitting in the front row raised his hand: "News is the reporting of facts."

"Very good. Standard answer." Arthur nodded. "So, what is the truth?"

The boy paused for a moment, then said, "It's true...it really happened."

"So, if the mayor gives a speech today saying 'the economic fundamentals are strong,' is that true?"

"Yes. The mayor did say that."

"If I report that 'the mayor declared today that the economic fundamentals are strong,' is that news?"

"That's true."

Arthur continued, "So what does this report tell the readers?"

The boy thought for a moment: "Tell the readers the mayor's views on the economy."

"Is that all? Does it tell the reader whether the mayor is telling the truth or not?"

The boy fell silent.

Arthur himself answered, "It didn't. It merely mechanically relayed the mayor's words. Whether those words are true or not is for the reader to judge."

"But the problem is that most readers are not capable of making that judgment. When they see in the newspaper that 'the mayor says the economic fundamentals are strong,' they assume that the economy is really doing well."

"Because the newspapers reported it, and newspapers should be objective and credible."

Whispers began to circulate among the audience.

"So this so-called 'objective reporting' is actually helping the mayor spread his claims, regardless of whether those claims are true or false."

"This is what I mean: objective reporting can sometimes become a tool for spreading lies."

A girl sitting in the middle raised her hand:

"But Mr. Kennedy, isn't the job of a journalist to report the facts? As for judging whether something is true or false, that's the reader's business."

Arthur nodded:

"Good question. Let me ask you another: If a doctor tells a patient, 'Your temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit,' and then leaves without explaining what that means or offering any treatment advice, do you think that doctor is competent?"

The girl shook her head: "Then I'd definitely be incompetent."

"Why is he incompetent? He reported the facts. His temperature was indeed 100 degrees Celsius."

The girl thought for a moment and replied, "Because...because the patient needs to know what this fact means, and needs to know what to do."

"Absolutely right. The same applies to journalism. Journalists cannot simply report the facts; they must also help readers understand the meaning of those facts."

"When the mayor says 'the economic fundamentals are strong,' journalists should ask their readers: Does this statement reflect reality? What is the unemployment rate? How many shops have closed? How many people have lost their homes?"

"This is a complete news report."

Some applause rang out from the audience.

But suddenly someone in the back row shouted, "Then why don't you do an investigative report? There's no evidence for what you've fabricated!"

Arthur turned in the direction the voice came from and saw that the person didn't look like a student, but more like a reporter.

"Which newspaper do you work for?"

The man paused for a moment, then replied, "The New York Daily News."

That being said, Arthur had never seen this person in the New York Daily News.

"Then let me ask you, does your newspaper have any evidence to support your report that I 'colluded with gangsters'?"

The man paused for a moment: "We were reporting a rumor. We wrote 'based on reliable sources,' which is standard journalistic practice."

"Oh, so you can just add this sentence and write whatever you want? Who is your reliable source? Can you disclose it?"

Laughter filled the auditorium.

The man's face flushed red: "This is a principle of press protection. We have an obligation to protect the identity of our sources."

"Very well. Then I can also say that my 'Yes, Mayor' report is based on reliable sources. I also cannot disclose their identities, as this is a matter of protection."

"This is different!" the man raised his voice.

"What's different?"

"You can use anonymous sources to attack me, saying I collude with gangs, that I'm of bad character, that I'm a liar."

"Can't I use observation and analysis to satirize the government? Can't I use literary techniques to present the truth?"

Tell me, what's the difference?

The man opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

"Let me tell you where the difference is."

Arthur walked to the edge of the stage and scanned the entire room.

"The difference is that your goal is to shut me up, while my goal is to make the public think. You use slander and defamation, while I use satire and exposure."

Applause suddenly erupted, starting from the back rows and quickly spreading throughout the entire auditorium.

The New York Daily News reporter, his face ashen, slumped down.