Journalism, or: Philosophy Dives Screeching from the Page

The definition of journalism - a verbal = X that opinionates in the absence of world-views; that proliferates in a world and time in which philosophies have become so much meal in the mouths of salesmen, lobbyists, hobbyists and hagiographers. In the world of journalism the editor is the gladiator. The writer, except in the case that he became a journalist, is his quarry. Writing itself is replaceable, for the sole necessity is that something be said and what I have written – can be written again – by someone else. The editor is a man with opinions. He is the taskmaster of the opinions, the man who ensures that they are truly opinions about what they ought to be about: opinions. By his agency opinions are made to interlock. He spreads them out before us like a fan with an untold number of facets. With their help a cool breeze wafts over our sultry lives - it's another question whether it’s just editorial ugliness, or truth as well, that screens itself from us here. In the process our dull yoke of factuality is not thrown off, but our labour under it is made easier by the refreshing mix of bad puns and righteous indignation. If true opinions, philosophies, existed here, they would dive screeching in terror from the page. But rest assured this cannot happen. That incendiary form of existence known as human action - which real opinions further and genuine philosophies supply the living atmosphere for - is here amended and annulled.

February 7, 2010