This business of gathering, ordering, writing, rechecking, editing, and publishing information is shaped by so many people it's a wonder the printed word resembles what actually occurred. (Introduction)

I was still very much into my college lifestyle, going to Cape Cod for weekends and going out with my friends at night. When a major story broke one Friday afternoon, I broke into tears...

My editor said...without much sympathy, "Have happy hour here. Now get your story done." (Beth Cooney, covers crime and reinforcement for The Advocate in Stamford, Connecticut, USA)

The next week we got a tip that Donald Trump and Lee Iococca were to be partners in a Florida housing development, and after writing the story, I got a nasty phone call from Trump complaining that he hadn't been treated nicely enough. He's famous for calling the media to put his spin on a story. (Timothy McDarrah, associate publisher and editor of Dan's' Papers in Bridgehampton, Long Island, USA)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a great leader, and there was no dissension. There was definitely a sense of unity, not only in Washington but in the whole country. I haven't had that feeling since. (Helen Thomas, Washington bureau chief for United Press International)

One of the great things about being in journalism is that you're helping to educate people, that you really are giving them the information that they need to preserve a democracy. (Helen Thomas, Washington bureau chief for United Press International)