From Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell, 11 June 1807
Jefferson's anti-newspaper screed has complaints that sound just as true today as they did more than 200 years ago
nothing can now be believed which is seen in a
newspaper.
I will add that the man who never looks into a newspaper is better
informed than he who reads them; inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with
falsehoods & errors. he who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false.
Perhaps an editor might begin a reformation in some such way as this. divide his paper into 4. chapters,
heading the 1st. Truths. 2d. Probabilities. 3d. Possibilities. 4th.
. Lies.
h. Lies.
4th. should be professedly for those readers who would rather have lies for their money than the blank paper they would occupy.