The value of journalism, sir, is not ‘zero’

John Paton, the chief executive piloting the radical remake of the Journal Register Co., declared last week that the value of journalism is “about zero.” But he is dead wrong.First and foremost, Paton is wrong to dismiss the intrinsic value to society of vigorous, ethical and independent journalism that is committed to comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. There is no other