10 They thought journalists were something they wouldn't want in their house,
11 Since no decent human being can ever be a journalist,
12 At least not a good journalist,
13 Because no decent human being could ever bring himself to ask questions of a mother grieving over her children's brand new graves,
14 Or wedge his foot inside a door where it wasn't wanted,
15 Or sensationalize hideous crimes for the sake of selling newspapers,
16 Or dig through someone's trash to find an angle on a story,
17 Or any of hundreds of things that journalists have always had to do.
18 But thanks to you,
19 Those days are over,
20 And journalism is entering a new age,
21 Of power and prestige and immense respect,
22 And did I mention power?
CHAPTER 121 I see that you have a hard time believing the part about power and prestige,
2 But here's what will happen.
3 There will come a day,
4 Not long from now,
5 aWhen TV journalists will become stars in their own right,
6 Like jugglers,
7 And acrobats,
8 And singers,
9 bBut better.
10 cThey'll get paid lots and lots of money,
11 dMore money than you would ever believe if I told you,
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12 For reading twenty-two minutes of news into a television camera.
13 And the keys to their stardom will all come from you,
14 eWho taught them how to be properly stentorian,
15 As if you knew everything,
16 Or at least much more than you are actually saying,
17 Because you are a journalist,
18 fAnd journalists know.
19 And it was also from you that they learned how to look into the camera,
20 Like a kindly guncle,
21 hWho still has teeth,
22 And will use them on any iscoundrel who tries to stop the complete story from being told to the people,
23 With an appropriate amount of footage.
24 Nor is this all that TV journalists will learn how to do.
CHAPTER 131 They will learn that the most important thing about journalism is to be on the air when something important is happening.
2 One day, there will be a jrace between the two most powerful nations on earth to put a man on the moon,
3 And TV journalists will be there,
4 kFor every single launch,
5 For years,
6 Sitting at a big desk overlooking the launch pad,
7 lSomewhat above it all,
8 Because a journalist has to be able to see.
9 mAnd people will come to trust and like them,
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