Series V: Opinion Journalism and A Matter of Opinion, 1903-2008, inclusive

This subseries consists of a group of file folders (more than five linear feet), with original numbers and titles, containing material on the topic of opinion journalism, presumably research forA Matter of Opinion. There are folders for The Nation and for many other journals of opinion. In addition, the material covers such topics as objectivity, ideology, bias, censorship, ethics, and the publishing business in general. In the folders labeled "Individuals" may be found research on journalists, pundits, editors, publishers and writers of all kinds. There are a number of folders containing untitled notebooks.

Not all of the sequential numbers appear in the list of folders (4,16,17,and 20 are skipped). It is possible that these had been removed or, perhaps, the material was re-labeled and used in some other context.

This subseries contains additional research for A Matter of Opinion. It consists of articles, correspondence, interviews, publications, and court documents. The philosopher Jurgen Habermas and his views on the role of opinion journals make an appearance in this subseries. Not only did Navasky collect material about Habermas, he also corresponded with, visited and interviewed him for the book. Considerable material on Alger Hiss appears in the subseries and may be seen in multiple chapters within the book, most extensively in Navasky's discussion of his clash with Allen Weinstein over Weinstein's 1978 book,Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case.

Publication support materials are also include in the subseries -- correspondence, publicity, potential photographs and dusk jacket, "blurbs" from other authors, and a 1993 Book Prospectus. Note that many of the original folder titles refer to "Book 4" which appears to have been the working title for A Matter of Opinion.

The Writing Process includes drafts, drafted material, and fragments, all ordered chronologically. The remaining portions of the subseries, such as edits, fact checking, and notes, are in alphabetical order. "TK" is a publishing term (abbreviation for to come) which signifies that additional material will be added at a later date. Individuals who are mentioned in this subseries include the book's editor, Elisabeth Sifton; Scott Sherman and Brian Gallagher, who worked as research assistants; and Kathryn Lewis, described by Navasky as typist and "secret editor."