Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible. He is a kind of confidence man, preying on people's vanity, ignorance, or loneliness, gaining their trust and betraying them without remorse.

Summary

This quote suggests that journalists are aware of the unethical nature of their profession. It argues that journalists exploit human vulnerabilities such as vanity, ignorance, and loneliness, gaining their trust only to betray them without feeling any guilt. It implies that journalists manipulate their subjects and the trust placed in them for personal gain, highlighting the questionable moral grounds upon which journalism operates.

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