Today, on Walter Lippmann’s birth anniversary, let us revisit the ideas of a journalist who challenged us to look beyond the news, question what we are told, and seek the truth for ourselves.

Walter Lippmann, born on 23 September 1889, was one of the most influential American journalists, writers and political thinkers of the twentieth century. His work focused on journalism, public opinion, democracy, propaganda and the way people understand the world around them. Even though he lived in a very different media age, many of his ideas remain remarkably relevant today. We live in a world where information travels within seconds through television, newspapers, websites, social media and artificial intelligence. Yet having access to more information does not necessarily mean that we know more truth. Lippmann made us think about an important distinction when he wrote, “The news and the truth are not the same thing.” News is what is reported to us, while truth often requires us to go beyond the report, examine evidence, understand context and ask what may have been left out.

In his famous 1922 book Public Opinion, Lippmann argued that people cannot directly experience most of the enormous and complicated world around them. Instead, they develop what he called “pictures in our heads” based on information received from newspapers, political leaders, institutions and other sources. He described this constructed picture as a “pseudo-environment.” People therefore often respond not to reality itself, but to their understanding of reality created through the information available to them. He also examined the role of stereotypes and simplified ideas in helping people understand complicated subjects quickly. This becomes especially important today, when a headline, short video, viral message or social-media post can create a strong impression about an event without providing its complete background. Lippmann’s ideas remind us that we should not confuse a powerful presentation of information with the complete truth.

Another famous idea associated with Lippmann is that “The press does not tell us what to think, it tells us what to think about.” The media does not have to directly instruct people what conclusion to reach in order to influence public discussion. The subjects that receive continuous attention can become the subjects society discusses, while issues receiving little attention may disappear from public awareness. Today this question extends beyond traditional newspapers and television. Social-media platforms, algorithms, trending topics, influencers, online publications and AI-generated content can influence what people see and discuss. This does not mean that every media organisation deliberately manipulates people, nor that everything reported by the media is false. But it does mean that we should ask why certain information is receiving attention, what evidence supports it, what information is missing and whether we are seeing the whole picture.

Lippmann’s warning that “deception has become organized and strong; where truth is poisoned at its source” also deserves reflection in the modern information age. Misleading information can be repeated, amplified and presented through different channels until people begin to accept a particular narrative without examining its origins. Lies, propaganda, manipulation and conditioning do not always appear as obvious lies. Sometimes they can be mixed with facts, emotions, selective information and repeated messages, making them much more difficult to recognise. This is why independent inquiry is so important. We should not depend entirely on one newspaper, one television channel, one political group, one corporation, one social-media platform or one individual to tell us what is true. Independent inquiry means checking sources, comparing evidence, asking questions and being willing to change our understanding when stronger evidence becomes available. Lippmann’s words, “There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil,” capture the fundamental responsibility of journalism: to pursue truth and expose wrongdoing, regardless of who may be powerful, popular or influential. For a journalist, truth should come before personal loyalty, commercial pressure or the interests of powerful institutions. Journalism should question authority, investigate facts and give people the information they need to understand the world for themselves.

This is particularly important for democracy and transparency. A democracy is not strengthened simply because people are allowed to vote; people also need access to reliable information to make meaningful decisions. The quality of decision-making—from an ordinary citizen to a political leader—can be affected by the quality of information available to them. When citizens have access to truthful and relevant information, they can question leaders, examine policies, understand problems and hold institutions accountable. Likewise, leaders who receive accurate information are better placed to understand the realities faced by ordinary people and make informed decisions. When information is distorted or deliberately concealed, both citizens and leaders can make decisions based on a false picture of reality. Independent access to information therefore contributes to accountability, transparency and informed public participation. A society where people can seek truth freely, question authority and make decisions based on reliable information has a stronger foundation for cooperation, harmony and peace.

Walter Lippmann viewed India during the late 1950s as a crucial test of whether democratic development could provide an alternative to communism in Asia, describing it as a “glorious gamble” for Western policy. In 1959, American strategic documents similarly identified India’s economic development and political stability as important in the Cold War competition, while India under Jawaharlal Nehru pursued its own policy of non-alignment rather than formally joining either bloc.

Lippmann’s perspective highlights how India’s size, population, economic challenges, and democratic institutions made it strategically significant to both the United States and the Soviet Union. Even today, India remains an important country in the wider competition among major powers, including the United States and Russia, although its contemporary foreign policy cannot simply be equated with the Cold War rivalry. India maintains relationships with both countries while pursuing its own strategic interests and diplomatic choices. The question for the future is whether India can strengthen its economic and technological capabilities, preserve its strategic autonomy, and emerge as an influential global power without becoming excessively dependent on any one major power or being drawn into competing spheres of influence. Lippmann’s historical observation therefore provides a useful starting point for examining India’s position in international politics, while the direction of India’s future will depend on its own institutions, decisions, capabilities, and engagement with the wider world.

Major Books by Walter Lippmann

• A Preface to Politics: Lippmann examines political life, public participation, and the gap between political ideals and human behaviour. The book reflects his early thinking about how politics could be made more practical and effective. It provides an important foundation for understanding his later ideas about democracy and public opinion.
  
• Drift and Mastery: Lippmann explores the social and economic changes taking place in the modern world. He argues for applying scientific thinking, knowledge and organised planning to social problems. The book reflects his belief that society should understand its problems rather than simply drift from one crisis to another.
  
• Liberty and the News: This is particularly important for journalists because Lippmann examines the relationship between reliable news and democracy. He argues that citizens cannot make informed decisions when the information available to them is inaccurate or misleading. It remains a valuable book for anyone interested in journalistic ethics and the responsibility of the press.
  
• Public Opinion: Perhaps Lippmann’s most famous work, this book examines how people form their understanding of events they cannot experience directly. He introduces ideas such as the “pictures in our heads,” stereotypes and the “pseudo-environment.” Every journalist should read this book to understand how news and media can influence public perception.
  
• The Phantom Public: Lippmann questions the assumption that ordinary citizens can remain fully informed about every complicated political issue. He argues that people often participate in public affairs when particular issues directly demand their attention. The book raises important questions about democracy, citizenship, expertise and the limits of public knowledge.
  
• A Preface to Morals: In this work, Lippmann examines the changing moral and intellectual foundations of modern society. He considers what happens when traditional systems of belief lose their authority and people search for new principles to guide their lives. It shows that Lippmann’s interests extended beyond journalism and politics into questions of morality and society.
  
• The Public Philosophy: Lippmann reflects on the condition of liberal democracy and the principles needed to sustain a free society. He discusses the relationship between individual freedom, government, morality and public institutions. The book represents his later thinking about the challenges facing democratic societies.

For anyone who wants to become a journalist, these books are worth reading—not simply to agree with Lippmann, but to question and understand his ideas. In an age when journalism can face corporate, commercial and political pressures, journalists must not become mere voices for powerful interests. Investigate, question, verify and tell people the truth. And for every reader: never expect someone to freely feed you the truth. You must seek the truth yourself and feed yourself with truthful information; otherwise, you may be fed lies, propaganda, manipulation and conditioning without even realising that you have been influenced. Look beyond the headline, question what you are told, examine the evidence and find the truth for yourself.