It’s wonderful that we are able to supply our readers with sports scores on demand and stats going back to 1938. But the real reason we are protected by the First Amendment – and the Home Shopping Network isn’t – is that we have to do good. We shine light in dark places, find out things people don’t want us to find out. I would hate to see people get too seduced by the technology and forget that.
Predictor: Willse, James
Prediction, in context:In a 1993 article for American Journalism Review, Kate McKenna reports on how the newspaper industry plans to get involved in the age of computer networks, interviewing former New York Daily News editor James Willse. McKenna writes:”Willse also sounds a note of caution for journalists who may be worshipping what he calls the ‘digital god’ too enthusiastically. ‘It’s wonderful that we are able to supply our readers with sports scores on demand and stats going back to 1938,’ he says. ‘But the real reason we are protected by the First Amendment – and the Home Shopping Network isn’t – is that we have to do good. We shine light in dark places, find out things people don’t want us to find out. I would hate to see people get too seduced by the technology and forget that.'”
Date of prediction: October 1, 1993
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: Journalism/Media
Name of publication: American Journalism Review
Title, headline, chapter name: The Future is Now: Newspapers Are Overcoming Their Fears of Technology and Launching a Wide Array of Electronic Products
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Volume 15, Issue 8, Page 16
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney