"Once a newspaper touches a story, the facts are lost forever, even to the protagonists"

This quote by Norman Mailer speaks with the power of the media and how it can form the narrative of a story. It suggests that when a paper or other media outlet has reported on a story, the realities of the story can become distorted and lost permanently, even to individuals involved in the story. This is since the media can take a story and spin it in a particular direction, often to fit a specific narrative or program. This can lead to the facts of the story becoming muddled and confused, and the truth of the story being lost. This quote acts as a reminder of the power of the media and how it can shape the story of a story, and how the fact can become lost in the process.