Though a pity, it is wonderfully appropriate that the American journalistic culture is almost never looked into except by journalists, for narcissism is its salient characteristic. Indeed, for anyone without the journalist’s penchant for self-congratulation, the whole subject is faintly disgusting. Partly this is because of the profession’s parasitic nature. Journalists are revolting the way leeches or tapeworms or lawyers are revolting. But some parasites can be of benefit to their host organisms, and journalists would have to be said to fall into this category. So long as they realize that their place is with garbage collectors and sewer workers, there is no harm in them. In some parts of the world, they still do realize it. I remember once talking to a British journalist about his paper’s coverage of the O. J. Simpson trial, which he expected to stand out from the pack by arguing that the verdict was entirely correct. When I expressed ...

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