The profession of a journalist is almost as old as that of a prostitute, and possibly even more contemptible. A journalist is a person without conscience and self-respect who can do everything to keep people listening to no matter what. Journalists don't scruple to use any means for cooking up yet another sensation; they never care for truth and justice, and their job has nothing to do with reporting information.

The only task of a journalist, brainwashing, has two complementary aspects: mass propaganda and stultification. Journalists cannot afford having any ideas or convictions of their own; otherwise, they are certain to lose their job in a moment. All they need to do is to serve the interests of the ruling layers of the society, and their income depends on their promptness and obsequiousness. Mass media won't employ those who would discuss the demands of the boss; journalists are hired from the already stultified mass, and, normally, there is no need to lash, since seditious thoughts just cannot enter their heads.

The methods of mass suggestion employed by journalists are entirely based on the base instincts and primitive interests, always remaining on the physiological level. Journalists try to persuade people that they are mere crowd animals, and no other vistas are possible. A complementary technique presents any serious feeling or thought as property of an élite, virtually annihilating them. The very existence of journalism is contrary to the universal nature of subjectivity and reason.

Journalists are largely ignorant, regardless of the level of education. All they need is some superficial knowledge for ornamental use, to disguise the poisonous dishes they feed to the public. Any popularization of art, science or philosophy in mass media is ideologically saturated, distorting the original ideas.

After deliberate lie, the second principal technique of journalism is manipulation. One can arrange facts in such a manner that they would suggest a quite definite interpretation. One can bring this ability to the level of art, or science, which, however, won't make the whole business any worthier.

Human history knows examples of how good scientists and deep philosophers lost their wisdom and competence as soon as they tried to fall back upon journalism. This abusive style has put many bright works out of contemporary usability, since their positive content is too blended with irrelevant details and diluted by the incidents of the distant time; for a common example, take the writings of K. Marx, F. Engels, and V. Lenin, whose philosophical views are so difficult to extract from under political piles that the very existence of Marxist philosophy is often put in question.