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Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) was a prominent American essayist and editor. His many books include "A Preface to Politics, Public Opinion, A Preface to Morals", and "The Good Society". Ronald Steel is professor of international relations and history at the University of Southern California. He is author of "Walter Lippman and the American Century". Sidney Blumenthal, former adviser to President Bill Clinton, is the author of "How Bush Rules" (Princeton) and a regular columnist for the "Guardian" and "Salon.com".

Written in the aftermath of World War I, this essay by the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist remains relevant in its denunciation of media bias, particularly in terms of wartime propaganda.

Timothy J. McNulty - Chicago Tribune

Lippmann's concern more than four generations ago was not about journalists, but about the impact poor journalism was having on readers, or more to the point, on the citizens in this democracy. We should have the same concern today.