Semi-Daily Journal

Notes: Terry Pratchett: Public Interest and Public Opinion

"Oh yes. Busy, of course. Such a lot of reading to catch up on. But I thought I should take a moment to come and see this 'free press' Commander Vimes has told me about at considerable length." He tapped one of the iron pillars of the press with his cane. "However, it appears to be firmly bolted down."

"Er, no, sir. I mean 'free' in the sense of what is printed, sir," said William.

"But surely you charge money?"

"Yes, but--"

"Oh, I see. You meant you should be free to print what you like?"

There was no escape. "Well... broadly, yes, sir."

"Because that's in the--what was the other interesting term? Ah, yes... the public interest?" Lord Vetinari picked up a piece of type and inspected it carefully.

"I think so, sir."

"These stories about man-eating goldfish and people's husbands disappearing in big silver dishes?"

"No, sir. That's what the people are interested in. We do the other stuff, sir."

"Amusingly shaped vegetables?"

"Well, a bit of that, sir. Sacharissa calls them human interest stories."

"About vegetables and animals?"

"Yes, sir. But at least they're real vegetables and animals."

"So... we have what the people are interested in, and human interest storires, which is what humans are interested in, and the public interest, which no one is interested in."

"Except the public, sir," said William, trying to keep up.

"Which isn't the same as people and humans?"

"I think it's more complicated than that, sir."

"Obviously. Do you mean that the public is a different thing from the people you just see walking about the place? The public thinks big, sensible measured thoughts while people run around doing silly things?"

"I think so. I may have to work on that idea too, I admit."

From The Truth.