Thank you.

Let me apologize. I donĂt have a power point presentation or any audio visuals to share with you this morning.
But then, I think that would be a waste of your time.  I know that IĂm speaking to a group of intelligent, well-read, thoughtful news consumers who donĂt need a silly show and tell. 

And, I suspect . . . if I was standing before you today . . .  with slides, saying ¦This is what our local section looks like,  . . . and this is how we re-designed our business section . . .and here are some recent stories we are proud of,˛ . . . it would only make all of you eager for me to get to the question and answer portion.   Quickly!

So, IĂll keep my ego in check . . . , restrain my inclination to shamelessly promote the P-I, . . .and instead talk for a few minutes about the media, . . . how it is changing . . . and some critical issues we face in todayĂs environment.

IĂll begin with a little story to illustrate a point

I am told that at a UW football game last season, . . . when there really wasn't much to watch on the field, . . . a student offered a generational challenge to a senior-citizen alum seated next to him.  The young student told the aging alum that it was literally impossible for his generation to understand Gen Xers, Gen Yers and the world they live in.   "You grew up in a different world," the student said, loud enough for the whole section of fans around them to hear. "Today we have television, . . . jet planes, space travel, . . . man has walked on the Moon, . . .  our spaceships have visited Mars.  . . We even have nuclear energy, . . .  electric and hydrogen cars, . . . computers with light-speed processing .... and . .  uh.."  (pause)

The student had a momentary pause while thinking what was next on the put-down litany.  So, the old man took advantage of that pause to interject: "You're right, young man. We didn't have those things when we were young.  So,  we invented them, you little twit!

What the hell are you doing for the next generation??"

After 35 years in media, I admit IĂm beginning to identify more with the old geezer . . . than the cocky young man who tried to taunt him.

In those years, there have been tremendous changes in the world, . . . enormous changes in media, . . . and profound changes in how people relate to media.

And, not all of the change has been in ways that is cause for celebration.   

Week before last, there was a disturbing study released by the Knight Foundation.    At least, I found it disturbing, although I didnĂt find it terribly surprising.

It was a poll of some 112,000 high school students across America, which showed that:

  • One third of them support restrictions on the press
  • 32% said the press has ¦too much freedom.˛
  • 36% think that everything we publish in newspapers should have to be cleared by government censors before readers see it.
  • Only 51% of them, . . .a majority. . . , but a very slim one, . . . said newspapers should be able to publish freely, . . .without government interference.

Now most journalists, . . . at least most of those who have paid attention to the release of these findings, . . . greeted them with anger, . . . derision, . . . and disdain.

And, I understand that anger and dismay.

 But I view these findings differently.  IĂm alarmed for a lot more than just how high school students fail to understand our basic freedoms.

It tells me that public trust, . . . that is so important to the media, continues to get worst, . . . not better.

And, of course, this is not new.   ItĂs reflects a 30 łyear slide of public confidence in the news media that certainly should concern and alarm those of us who work in the business.

 

The attitudes of those kids in the Knight study, — though perhaps a bit naĺve in some respects, . . . arenĂt nearly as different from adult attitudes as we in the media would like to think.

A Pew Research Center poll taken a couple of years ago showed that 62 percent of adult Americans believe the press tries to cover up for its mistakes; . . . and 58 percent think that reporters ¦frequently˛ or ¦occasionally˛ make up stories.

And, as I said, these attitudes donĂt simply stem from ignorance of civics, . . . or a lack of understanding and respect for Constitutional freedoms.

 That would be a simplistic, . . . head-in-the-sand interpretation to take away from all this.  IĂm afraid it reflects what the public thinks of us, . . . how much they trust us, . . . how much they believe us. 

Things havenĂt always been this way.  

In 1976, in the aftermath of Watergate, a Gallup poll told us that 72 percent of adult Americans had trust and confidence in the news media. Today, the answers Gallup gets to that same question is that only 44 percent of adults trust the information they find in the media.

What amounts to what would be landslide majority, . . .if this were an election we were discussing  . . . do not think the information we provide can be trusted.

ThatĂs not good news for those of us in media, . . .and while there are no easy answers nor an easy explanation, . . .we best not take it lightly.

Now, . . . I want those numbers to change.   I probably have about nine or 10 years left before they retire me from this business, . . .but IĂd very much like to see those numbers change.

There was a great public confidence in media when I broke into this business, . . . and IĂd like see that confidence restored before I retire.

And,  . . .  and I earnestly believe that the Washington News Council wants those numbers to change, too.

I could be wrong, . . .  but I donĂt believe you founded this organization as a full-employment tool, . . . or as a platform for any finger-pointing agenda.

You want the media to be fair, responsive and accountable.

And, I very much share those goals.  I heartily salute your intentions.

 If we have a difference, . . . and I donĂt believe there is a substantial ones . . ., is that I know there are no simplistic answers for changing those numbers.

Individual commitment to fairness, responsiveness and accountability is essential in news organizations that care about those things.   And, it has to be fostered as part of a news organizationĂs internal culture.

So, when I think about what I can do . . .  to contribute to the restoration of public confidence in media, IĂm reminded of the old spiritual that IĂm certain some of you know:

¦This little light of mine, . . . IĂm gonna let it shine.˛

I know the media is proliferating at what would have been an unimaginable pace when I broke into this business.  I know that much of the public has one sweeping perception of media that views newspapers, television networks, talk radio, cable talk shows, left wing broadcast networks, right-wing broadcast networks, the ¦info-tainment˛ industry, local TV and internet bloggers with one broad brush.

That makes the task at hand more daunting, . . . but not impossible.   And, it certainly does not make it one we should give up on. 

Since I came to P-I in 1993, IĂve worked to make fairness, responsiveness and accountability part of the internal culture.  And,  . . .  where I can be a missionary, . . . IĂve tried encourage that elsewhere in the media.

But my focus is, . . . and should be, . . . on the P-I.

We want to be easy to reach, . . . we strive to listen and respond to readers, . . . when necessary, we employ transparency in a manner that helps readers understand how and why we do things, . . . we own up to our mistakes and shortcomings, . . . and we keep the conversations about quality journalism, high standards and best practices going on within our newsroom.  Perpetually.

There are no simplistic answers.  But day in, and day out, I encourage the professionals with whom I work to try to do our part.

Thank you so much.  I look forward to taking a few questions if you have them.