Journalists share a love-hate relationship with the people. Newspaper editors and reporters enjoy exalted positions in society; they also face the brunt of the people’s anger and frustration.

Most people agree that journalists are essential in a democracy to make powerful people and institutions accountable. But ‘fake news’ has gained currency in public parlance in reference to the media. Politicians use it to discredit critical media reports. This is a global phenomenon and the media’s credibility is under severe strain. In the United States of America, in particular, the tussle is now between the right-wing media and the reality-based, traditional media that have their own versions of history and interpretations of political and social developments.

Margaret Sullivan has come out with her memoir at a time when American democracy is in peril and journalism around the world is going through its worst crisis. The economic bloodbath post-pandemic led hundreds of journalists to lose their jobs; news organisations are also struggling to survive. Memoirs can be disappointing, especially when they turn into self-written hagiography. But Sullivan has managed to keep it interesting and informative by giving readers a peek inside the newsroom.

Sullivan had joined The Buffalo News as an intern but became its first female editor. She was also appointed to the Pulitzer Prize Board. But her big achievements came with her appointments as a media columnist to The Washington Post as also the first female public editor in The New York Times. The book’s appeal to journalists and discerning readers, especially those outside the US, comes from her candid examination of leading American newspapers.

As public editor, Sullivan’s job was to implement journalistic ethics in the publication and to be the voice of the public/readers. This meant she was paid by the newspaper to criticise it and find holes in its stories. “[I]t was a good thing that I had made lots of friends earlier in my life and career. I wasn’t adding any at the Times,” she notes in her book.

The public trust in the media in the US has plummeted from 72% in the post-Watergate scandal days to 29% currently. While searching for reasons for the loss of readers’ trust in journalists, Sullivan identifies growing activism in news coverage as a hindrance. Readers want the news as it is, so that they can make their own judgement. She also cautions against the “overuse” of “anonymous sources” for stories since many of them were far from the truth and “plants” by interested parties. While sources are required for stories, they can also be extremely embarrassing for newspapers when “rigorous skepticism” is not applied in ascertaining what these sources are selling.

The Indian media has traditionally regarded its Western counterpart as the ‘gold standard’ of objective and fair reporting. This book should be an eye-opener. “Once public trust is betrayed, it is almost impossible to regain it,” says Sullivan. This axiom holds true as much for the American media as for journalists in the rest of the world.