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Just felt like weighing in on this topic, if I may, to elaborate on free press.
In the days after the Revolution, our Founding Fathers understood human nature and how precious and fragile is our liberty. That’s why the First Amendment, including its guarantee of freedom of the press, merited the No. 1 position when the founders added the Bill of Rights to the new Constitution.
For a representative democracy to thrive while safeguarding individual liberties, it is essential that the people know what’s going on in the government they elect.
Press freedom has seen dark days before and politicians do look for ways to control the messages that reach the public and they do try to suppress journalists who ask inconvenient questions. That’s human nature, especially the nature of ambitious people who reach positions of power.
Fortunately, the checks and balances of our system usually prevail.
But things feel a bit scarier at present.
With a president who is waging a reckless campaign to brand journalists as “enemies of the people” and discredit as “fake news” anything that doesn’t make him look good, the OP's question is legitimate.
We are in a time where we need to remember how important freedom of the press really is. Donald Trump’s attacks on the press and his efforts to blame “the media” for a host of problems is a new ugly level that really is an assault on our very own democracy.
In an Ipsos poll from last summer almost half — 48 percent — of Republicans agree with Trump’s assertion that “the news media is the enemy of the American people.”
Alarmingly, 43 percent of Republicans think the president should be able “to shut down news outlets engaged in bad behavior.” This is troubling.
For free speech to endure, we must protect the rights of people who say things we find abhorrent. And for a free press to continue working to keep our government open and responsive, we must allow journalists to function even when they are scrutinizing and criticizing those we favor.
Did those who now think the press is the enemy feel that way when news reports repeated false claims about Obama’s birthplace, or during all the media attention to Hillary Clinton’s emails? Would they be as willing to let the president shut down news outlets if those determining what is “bad behavior” were Democrats?
Freedom of the press, like our other essential liberties, is more important than any individual or party. Ultimately, it protects us all.
P.S.It’s often said that one of the first actions of a would-be dictator is to suppress the free press.
Safeguarding the liberties that make our country great is not easy. It requires defending those liberties despite the fluctuation of politics.
Last edited by corpgypsy; 11-29-2018 at 11:10 AM..
And if "free" involves hogging the microphone and preventing your fellow reporters from having their turn, then obviously there is a problem with free.
The 'free press' mentioned in the thread title does NOT consist of Jim Acosta.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Volobjectitarian
Again I ask, where is an example of the press not being capable of independently questioning authority?
Using one example - CNN's Acosta. He has not lost his capability of independently questioning authority, nor has his employer CNN. They independently question Trump's authority all day, every day, with no interruption. Only thing that happened to Acosta is temporarily losing his invitation to do so inside Trump's house. He can still stand outside and independently questioning authority all the live long day, and nobody can stop him.
So where has the press lost their capability to independently questioning authority?
There's not - yet. But Trump is trying to destroy them. Fake News, etc. IF Trump had his way - there would be NO press that was allowed to criticize him at all.
Or do you believe that only a media that says nice things about you and Donald should be allowed and all others who ask inconvenient questions are "enemy of the People?"
Another troll thread.
First of all, what we have masquerading as a "Free Press", is anything but a Free Press. It is overwhelmingly biased toward the Democrats and Liberals, and against Conservatives and Republicans. This bias exists at all levels from the bias of individual employees, to editorial policies, to what they cover and don't cover, what they trumpet and what the downplay or ignore.
People, such as the dominant media such as ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN Los Angeles/New York Times, on and on infinitum, excluding Fox News and dominant Talk Radio, who serve NOT to chronicle the events of our time, but, rather, to deeply influence them and their outcomes, are indeed the "enemy of the People", as are tolls who, as loyal allies, mis-describe the situation in their pathetic threads.
the press has forever tarnished their reputation reporting the news.
It is not only the (mis) reporting of the news, but is the bias and agenda they inject into their "reporting" that is a blatant and wrongfull attempt to determine/change/modify the outcomes of the events they cover. They are supposed to be like a court reporter, and instead, they are like a rapid prosecutor who cares ONLY about convictions, justice-be-damned.
Sure, they're capable of questioning authority, but their liberal bias has shown that they're not willing to be respectful or honest in their reporting since they are agenda-driven.
The last couple of years has proven that they are not vital to democracy since a majority of the public doesn't believe what they say, and our democracy is doing fine in spite of them.
That's because they are paid to 'report' what left-wing audiences want to hear (calling the President names etc.).
You are very selectively picking out what you don't like to see or hear, and of course we can all do that, but painting all of the press with the same biased broad brush is an example of letting your agenda overshadow the fact that much if not most of the press is not guilty of what you are complaining about.
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