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Jill Abramson Quotes

Powerful Jill Abramson for Daily Growth

About Jill Abramson

Jill Abramson is an esteemed American journalist, editor, and author, who has made significant contributions to the world of journalism over her illustrious career. Born on August 10, 1954, in New York City, she grew up in a family deeply rooted in literature and academia. Her mother, a librarian, and father, a college professor, instilled in Abramson an appreciation for knowledge and storytelling from an early age. After graduating with honors from the University of Chicago, Abramson embarked on her journalistic journey. She joined The Wall Street Journal in 1988, where she worked for 16 years, rising through the ranks to become the newspaper's first female Washington bureau chief. During this period, Abramson covered several landmark events, including the Iran-Contra affair, the 1992 Presidential election, and the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. In 2003, Abramson joined The New York Times as the paper's first female managing editor. Under her leadership, the newspaper won several Pulitzer Prizes for its groundbreaking investigative reports. In 2011, she was appointed the executive editor of The New York Times, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the newspaper's history. Abramson left The New York Times in 2014 amidst a controversy over her management style and handling of leaks. Post- departure, she authored two books: "The Merchants of Truth: The Business of News and the Fight for Facts" (2019) and "Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas" (1993), co-written with Jane Mayer. Throughout her career, Abramson has been recognized for her tenacity, insightful reporting, and trailblazing efforts to break barriers in the journalism industry. Her work continues to inspire a new generation of journalists committed to truth, integrity, and impartiality.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Journalism is the first rough draft of history."

This quote by Jill Abramson emphasizes the role of journalism as a preliminary account or representation of historical events, rather than an authoritative or final version of history. Journalism serves as the initial document or outline from which the full story of events unfolds, providing a snapshot in time to inform and engage the public. The quote underscores the importance of journalism in shaping our understanding of current events, and its potential to influence historical perception.

"In every newspaper story there is a truth waiting to be found."

This quote emphasizes the importance of journalism in uncovering and revealing the underlying truths within news stories. In essence, it suggests that each news narrative carries an essential truth, often hidden or obscured, which a diligent journalist can expose through thorough investigation and analysis. The quote highlights the vital role of journalists in shedding light on the facts and presenting them accurately to the public.

"The role of journalism is to be independent and skeptical, not just echo what officials say."

This quote by Jill Abramson highlights the importance of journalistic independence and objectivity in a society that often relies on media for information. The role of journalists should extend beyond simply repeating official statements without question. Instead, they must be critical thinkers who challenge and scrutinize information from various sources to present a balanced perspective. This is crucial for fostering an informed public and promoting transparency within governance.

"Facts are the foundation of good journalism."

Jill Abramson's statement "Facts are the foundation of good journalism" highlights the importance of accuracy, veracity, and objectivity in journalistic work. It emphasizes that a strong foundation for effective and reliable reporting lies in the gathering, validation, and presentation of facts. Good journalism is based on meticulous research and a dedication to truth-telling, ensuring that the public receives credible and well-substantiated information.

"Journalists can't wait for history to be written; we have to make it."

This quote by Jill Abramson emphasizes the proactive role journalists play in shaping history rather than passively reporting it. It underscores the power of the media to influence public perception, stimulate discourse, and ultimately, contribute to the course of events that constitute history. In essence, this quote highlights the responsibility and agency of journalists in not just documenting historical events, but actively participating in their creation.

There's a way to do networking that isn't overly brown-nosing.

- Jill Abramson

Networking, Way, Overly

I admit that I am hopelessly hooked on the printed newspaper. I love turning the pages and the serendipity of stumbling across a piece of irresistible information or a photograph that I wasn't necessarily intending to read.

- Jill Abramson

Love, Newspaper, Read, Printed

You know, a dog can snap you out of any kind of bad mood that you're in faster than you can think of.

- Jill Abramson

Think, Bad, Mood, Bad Mood

I like the immediacy of blogs and the democratizing effects of letting millions of voices bloom on the Web.

- Jill Abramson

Bloom, Like, Effects, Immediacy

I think a lot about something: Abe Rosenthal was once asked what he wanted on his headstone, and he said he wanted it just to say, 'He kept the paper straight.' And I think about that a lot.

- Jill Abramson

Think, I Think, About, Abe

I think that a great newspaper is one that puts a real premium on digging to get the story behind the story.

- Jill Abramson

Think, Newspaper, Behind, Digging

Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working on my own enterprise stories, which were not as deadline sensitive.

- Jill Abramson

Small, Own, Enterprise, Investigative

As someone who has spent a lot of her career as an investigative reporter, I'll confess that a frustration of mine has always been that so much investigative journalism involves a dissection of events in the past.

- Jill Abramson

Always, In The Past, Mine, Investigative

I think as an investigative reporter I had tough standards, but I don't think of myself as a tough person.

- Jill Abramson

Think, Standards, I Think, Investigative

You can verify that in news meetings I sometimes say, 'This is skewed too far to the left,' or 'The mix of stories seems overweeningly appealing to a reader with a certain set of sensibilities, and it shouldn't.'

- Jill Abramson

News, Stories, Set, Mix

I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters from grad school. You know, the disappointment of losing, or not getting something you badly want. When that happens, show what you are made of.

- Jill Abramson

Been, Badly, Gotten, Letters

I think about the question of perspective in reporting all the time, and since I spent 20 years of my career in Washington as both a reporter and an editor I'm keenly aware that a newspaper should not be dominated by stories in which the only voices and perspective come from those in power.

- Jill Abramson

Career, Newspaper, I Think, Reporting

Budget cuts are a sad reality in most newsrooms, and I am concerned that they reduce the collective muscle of journalists who are doing the expensive, and often dangerous, work of on-the-ground reporting.

- Jill Abramson

Doing, Concerned, Reduce, Reporting

I've taught a college journalism course at two universities where my students taught me more than I did them about how political news is consumed.

- Jill Abramson

College, News, Consumed, Journalism

Although I believe the Web has greatly increased the distribution of quality news, I do worry about those who don't have Internet access.

- Jill Abramson

Worry, News, Increased, Greatly

People often assume New York City is no place to keep a dog. This is certainly what my parents told me when I was growing up there. But I have found this not to be the case at all.

- Jill Abramson

City, Growing, New York City, Assume

The Obama administration has had seven criminal leak investigations. That is more than twice the number of any previous administration in our history. It's on a scale never seen before.

- Jill Abramson

More, Before, Previous, Criminal

I have heard Obama officials say more than once, 'You will have blood on your hands if you publish this story.'

- Jill Abramson

Hands, Will, More, Officials

Secrets don't stay secrets very long, even when journalists decide to censor themselves.

- Jill Abramson

Themselves, Very, Even, Censor

As a big user of public libraries, I deplore the cutbacks they have had to sustain.

- Jill Abramson

Big, Public, Libraries, Sustain

In one's relationship with dogs and with a newsroom, a generous amount of praise and encouragement goes much better than criticism.

- Jill Abramson

Goes, Praise, Amount, Encouragement

With the fragmentation of television audiences and the advent of cable and on-demand services, the prestige of being an anchor is not what it was in the days of Walter Cronkite.

- Jill Abramson

Television, Advent, Services, Anchor

I am in awe of women who have full family lives and seem to work round the clock in the 24/7 news cycle.

- Jill Abramson

Work, News, Lives, Awe

I have to pay attention to work on the weekends and always have my iPhone with me, but I don't mind.

- Jill Abramson

Mind, Always, Weekends, iPhone

The printed newspaper is a powerful showcase for news, opinion and advertising.

- Jill Abramson

Powerful, News, Newspaper, Printed

I have an older sister who sounds, unfortunately, exactly like me, and we sound like our mother did.

- Jill Abramson

Sound, Like, Unfortunately, Sister

I think the Huffington Post has been inventive and presents what it aggregates well.

- Jill Abramson

Think, Been, I Think, Post

The whole issue of how women's management styles are viewed is an incredibly interesting subject.

- Jill Abramson

How, Issue, Incredibly, Styles

I've pretty much stopped using a laptop because I'm not line-editing a lot of things anymore.

- Jill Abramson

Pretty, Lot, Stopped, Laptop

My advice on getting a raise is what everybody's advice is: to become a confident negotiator; but that is so hard. My admiration for women who are good at that is unbridled. Women in general have a harder time talking about money with their bosses.

- Jill Abramson

Advice, Confident, Everybody, Raise

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