45 The power of the press

In democratic countries any efforts to restrict the freedom of the press are rightly condemned.

在民主国家里,任何限制新闻自由的企图都理所当然地受到谴责。

However, this freedom can easily be abused.

然而,这种自由很容易被滥用。

Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events.

常人轶事往往比政治事件更能引起公众注意。

Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves.

我们都喜欢看关于别人生活的报道,但是否同样喜欢看关于自己生活的报道,就很难说了。

Acting on the contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold suffering to individuals by publishing details about their private lives.

记者按事实至上的论点行事,发表有关别人私生活的细节,有时会给当事人造成极大的痛苦。

Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government.

新闻具有巨大的威力。它们不仅可以给寻常人家的生活带来重大的变化,甚至还能推翻一个政府。