Newton N. Minow Quotes

#1. We've gotten to the point where everybody's got a right and nobody's got a responsibility.

Newton N. Minow

#2. On a visit to the space program, President Kennedy asked me about the satellite. I told him that it would be more important than sending a man into space. "Why?" he asked. "Because," I said, "this satellite will send ideas into space, and ideas last longer than men.

Newton N. Minow

#3. We need imagination in programming, not sterility; creativity, not imitation; experimentation, not conformity; excellence, not mediocrity. Television is filled with creative, imaginative people. You must strive to set them free.

Newton N. Minow

#4. Children will watch anything, and when a broadcaster uses crime and violence and other shoddy devices to monopolize a child's attention, it's worse than taking candy from a baby. It is taking precious time from the process of growing up.

Newton N. Minow

#5. Television is a vast wasteland.

Newton N. Minow

#6. When television is good, nothing is better. When it's bad, nothing is worse.

Newton N. Minow

#7. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air ... and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a great wasteland.

Newton N. Minow

#8. What do we mean by the public interest? Some say the public interest is merely what interests the public. I disagree.

Newton N. Minow