ScrappleFace: Survey: Journalists A Lot Smarter Than World Leaders

Survey: Journalists A Lot Smarter Than World Leaders

(2002-10-19) -- A new poll of journalists worldwide reveals that writers and editors in news organizations are a lot smarter than presidents, prime ministers and military generals.

The survey, funded by the Center for Fostering a Higher Opinion of the Competence of Journalists (CFHCJ) , found that while national leaders often make mistakes, fail to comprehend the significance of their actions, and leap to decisions without careful forethought, journalists almost never do any of those things.

"We were surprised at how wise journalists are compared with world leaders," said an unnamed source at CFHCJ. "It's amazing that the men and women who lead nations ever rose to such positions of responsibility, considering their relative ignorance and incompetence. Perhaps more incredible is that few nations have elected reporters, editors and columnists as chief executives."

The CFHCJ initiated the study after researchers noticed that reporters and columnists often have better ideas than world leaders, even though they lack access to reliable information and must shape their opinions from hearsay, conjecture, news releases and public statements by people who have self-promoting motivations.

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Indeed, the International Institute for Pollster Preservation reported that among all groups, journalists proved second in integrity, intelligence, and good looks, while pollsters continued to hold the top position, for the 14th straight year that the survey has been taken.

Posted by: the talking dog at October 19, 2002 12:07 PM

Seriously...

You got this story off of "The Onion", right?

Posted by: James at October 19, 2002 02:28 PM

I'm off to call Phil Hendrie now... ;)

Posted by: James at October 19, 2002 02:30 PM

I need to correct the Talking Dog. Journalists almost inevitably think they're smarter than everyone else but most journos are appropriately humble about their looks.

Posted by: Joanne Jacobs at October 19, 2002 04:30 PM

President Brokaw and Vice President Couric.

Some see the world as it is, and say "Why"?
Some see the world as it could be and say "Why not?"

Posted by: rinardman at October 19, 2002 05:10 PM

You are absolutely right - this book has even more proof.

Catastrophe: Clinton's Role in America's Worst Disaster

Posted by: George Brody at October 19, 2002 11:17 PM

Riiiiight ... the way they say "when we tell you a vote is in you can take it to the bank" and then say Florida went to Gore :-)

Posted by: Gloria at October 20, 2002 11:41 AM

Mais serieusment: In other countries they do rise, and have risen, to political eminence. Just two--well maybe three--examples are Benito Mussolini, Joseph Goebbels, Karl Marx.

Posted by: milton rosenberg at October 20, 2002 07:05 PM

Not only are they smarter than world leaders, they are much smarter than all of us non-journalists too.

One of the perverse pleasures of my life is reading the editorial page of my hometown paper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Every day they hold forth on what other people should do, and have an opinion on every topic under the sun. They have all the expertise and information (not to mention wisdom, discernment, and a love for their fellow man that mere mortals like you and I lack) to deal with any problem, any issue, no matter what the subject, despite the fact that the only qualifications of a print journalist are the abilities to write to length and to schedule.

Any paragraph that starts "There are no easy solutions" will contain at least two; facts never get in the way of a cherished opinion; reinforcing failure is the only sure road to victory; and doing the same thing over will lead to a different outcome, because this time, it's different.

Posted by: Kevin Murphy at October 21, 2002 04:34 PM

There's no way this story is off of The Onion.

ScrappleFace is way funnier than The Onion has managed to be for over a year now.

Posted by: The Comedian at October 22, 2002 12:35 AM