Why Democracies Need an Unlovable Press

In this article the author re-examines a paradox already pointed out by Tocqueville: some of the features of journalism discredited most by critics and academics are actually indispensable if democracy is to function properly. The press remains an institution at the service of the establishment, characterized by its dependence on official sources, by the constraints of institutional conventions, and by professional routines. But in addition to prestigious journalism of the Pulitzer type, subjects that focus primarily on unexpected events, on conflicts and on cynical personalization do also contribute to the democratic process.