More than illness or death, the American journalist fears standing alone against the whim of his owners or the prejudices of his audience. Deprive William Safire of the insignia of the New York Times, and he would have a hard time selling his truths to a weekly broadsheet in suburban Duluth.

Summary

This quote highlights the fear of American journalists to be stripped of their affiliations and lose the support of their audience. It suggests that journalists are more concerned about facing opposition from those who own the media organizations or catering to the biases of their readers than they are about falling ill or dying. The quote uses the example of William Safire from the New York Times, implying that without the platform and reputation provided by his newspaper, Safire would struggle to convey his truths to a lesser-known publication in suburban Duluth.

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