Journalism and the pursuit of 'moral clarity'

And why it’s a terrible idea

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a journalist friend who works for a center-right media company. He told me that his editor had just said to him that the purpose of journalism is to “provide moral clarity”.

I told him that that was the worst thing I’ve ever heard. And I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Because it’s not only the worst thing I’ve ever heard, it’s also how people have been making money in journalism lately. Those who paint themselves as morally correct and their opponents as morally inferior are the ones getting rich.

Well: this is a newsletter about why we SHOULDN’T be in the business of providing moral clarity, despite how popular and lucrative it currently is.

First, let me say I understand the appeal. When Trump was elected the first time I was so horrified I watched CNN every night for four years. Every night for four years I watched Jake Tapper and Erin Burnett and Anderson Cooper reflect my constant fears back at me in smart and eloquent ways. I wanted to hear it. I was gripped. I remember reading a story about a terminally ill man who said his biggest regret about dying was that he wouldn’t be around for when the Mueller report came out. If only he’d held out a few months longer he’d have died underwhelmed.