"People may expect too much of journalism. Not only do they expect it to be entertaining, they expect it to be true"

Lewis H. Lapham’s observation explores the challenges and expectations society places on journalism, highlighting a tension at the heart of news media. Audiences approach journalism with a dual expectation: they want coverage that not only conveys truth but also holds their attention through entertainment. This dual demand often proves difficult to satisfy, as the purposes of entertainment and truth-telling sometimes diverge.

The role of journalism is traditionally understood as the pursuit and dissemination of factual, accurate information. In an ideal sense, journalism equips citizens to make informed decisions by conveying reality as faithfully as possible. However, as news increasingly competes for attention amidst a crowded landscape of media options, television, internet, social media, there is pressure to present information in more engaging, even sensational, ways. Entertainment value becomes a tool to secure readership and viewership, which are essential for revenue and influence.

The blending of entertainment with news can create problems. When stories are shaped or chosen primarily for their ability to attract attention, substance can be sacrificed for spectacle. The quest for “clicks” or ratings may skew priorities, encouraging sensationalism, superficial coverage, or the omission of complex but vital details. Audiences, in turn, might conflate being engaged or amused with being well-informed, obscuring journalism’s central mission to seek the truth.

Lapham’s insight points toward a broader cultural tendency to look to journalism not only as a means of understanding the world but as a source of diversion. This expectation is partly reasonable, as compelling storytelling can help convey important information. Yet, holding journalism to the standards of both unvarnished truth and continuous entertainment is a difficult, perhaps impossible, balance. Recognizing this dual expectation helps readers become more discerning, understanding both the possibilities and limitations of the news media in an age where truth and entertainment increasingly compete for prominence.