Commentator: Many social critics claim that contemporary journalists' cynical tendency to look for selfish motives behind the seemingly altruistic actions of powerful people undermines our society' s well-being by convincing people that success is invariably associated with greed and mendacity  But the critics' claim is absurd  The cynicism of contemporary journalists cannot be a contributing factor to the undermining of our society' s well-being, for journalists have always been cynics
Today' s journalists are, if anything, more restrained than their predecessors
cynicism of this type on the part of journalists has always had a negative effect on the well-being of society