Max Weber on "Political Journalism" ( + Legitimate Domination Theory)

Max Weber 1918 -

Point 1 -
Journalists are never successful in political parties with the exception of the German National Socialist party, where some have attained very high ranks indeed. (Alistair Campbell notwithstanding)

Point 2 - 
A drive to drop 'principled anonymity' by certain newspapers helped boost sales but did not ensure that greater integrity came from the journalists themselves. On the contrary, non-anoymous journalists were frequently the most scandalous.

Quote -
"The life of a journalist is an absolute gamble in every respect and under conditions that test one's inner security in a way that scarcely occurs in any other situation. The often bitter experiences in occupational life are perhaps not even the worst. The inner demands that are directed precisely at the successful journalists are especially difficult. It is indeed no small matter to frequent the salons of the powerful on this earth on a seemingly equal footing and often be flattered by all because one is feared, yet knowing all the time that having hardly closed the door the host has perhaps to justify before his guests, his association with 'scavengers from the press'. Moreover, it is no small matter that one must express oneself promptly and convincingly about this and that, on all conceivable problems of life, whatever the 'market' happens to demand, and this without becoming absolutely shallow and above all without losing one's dignity by baring oneself, a thing which has merciless results. It is not astonishing that there are many journalists who have become human failures and worthless men. Rather, it is astonishing that, despite all this, this very stratum includes such a great number of valuable and quite genuine men, a fact that outsiders would not so easily guess". 



Part 2
Part 3