Press Freedom

March 11, 2019 by kmabarrett

Freedom of the press ensures that the abuse of every other freedom can be known, can be challenged and even defeated.

— Kofi Annan

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On This Day In:
2022	Prayers For Ukraine
2021	Be Your Own Hero
	Another Frog King
2020	Still Trying To…
2019	Press Freedom
2018	Or Loyalty To An Unqualified And Incompetent President
2017	A Bad Sale
2016	Be Happy!
2015	Are You Feeling Cold?
2014	Never Asked
2013	In Praise Of Change
2012	John Carter Of Mars
	Circular
2011	How Much And When

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes | Tagged Abuse Of Freedom, Freedom Of The Press, Kofi Annan, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes | 7 Comments

7 Responses

on March 14, 2019 at 3:16 am | Reply toyinakodutv

Yes, freedom is the key of free mind we need freedom
on March 11, 2019 at 3:22 am | Reply GP Cox

But I still maintain that the press should remain unbiased. Journalists today don’t seem to understand what that means.
- on March 11, 2019 at 9:25 am | Reply kmabarrett
  
  Hi GP,
  I still tend to agree with you. I doubt this is “only” the fault of journalists, though.
  
  My own feeling is that “trained” journalists can set aside their biases in their reporting. I believe the journalism schools (universities) have a role in teaching ethical journalism – including understanding personal biases and how to restrain them in reporting news. I feel the heaviest burden falls on the editors, though. They are ultimately in the role to curtail reporting bias. This is usually done by using multiple confirmed and on the record sources (obviously not always possible). This is a difficult job, but their job is made triply difficult by 1) the confusion between “news” reporting and opinion “reporting”, and then 2) the efforts of business / marketing / management to interfere with news to slant it towards the editorial positions of the company or owners of the company.
  
  One example is Fox “News” Channel. Other than Shepard Smith and his one hour per day, there really is NO other “news” on Fox News (that I am aware of). The rest of their shows are opinion and or entertainment shows. They “discuss” the news, but they don’t report it. Even worse (for the viewing public) they (the channels) confuse viewers by adding segments to their entertainment, like weather and sports, which give the impression they are news shows, when they are not. Fox is not the only channel which does this, but they are (in my opinion) the worst of the lot. Two hours of news, (one hour of Smith and a second later in the day when the hour is the first hour being replayed) out of a 24 hour day, does not make you a “news” channel. They should change their name to something more appropriate, like the Fox Conservative / Republican Party Opinion Channel. But, then, the same can be said for MSNBC on the Democratic side. They are not as bad as Fox, but they are pretty close.
  
  The problem is how do you fill 24 hours of news on a “news” channel, when most national news can be handled in 3 hours on any given day. Management’s answer has been “entertainment” dressed up to appear to be news.
  
  As always, thanks for the visits and for leaving a comment.
  Kevin
  - on March 11, 2019 at 10:30 am | Reply GP Cox
    
    I wasn’t talking only TV, they are news casters, reading off the station’s monitors. I’m also saying newspapers and news mags that I read. Granted you always have the “human factor” involved, but someone needs to weed that out, the editors afraid of losing their jobs for going up against ‘company policy’ sure aren’t going to do it.
    - on March 11, 2019 at 11:15 am | Reply kmabarrett
      
      GP,
      Again, I agree. This is particularly true with “smaller” area (i.e. “rural”) networks owned by national corporations. Many of them bought up in the last 25 years. The deal is they minimize “news” staff by issuing the news from HQ and every station reads their “local” news to their audience. Not only are the words being read the exact same (except for the gender and ethnicity of reader), they are also read at the same point in each broadcast. This is meant to hit just the folks who are viewing at specific times. The audience think they are getting “local” news, and they are NOT. This is particularly true for religious right and conservative (small “c”) networks. I don’t deny the left / liberal / progressive side would be doing the same (if they are not already), but the “left” hasn’t been buying up newspapers, talk radio and TV stations the same way the “right” has been. Money is in power. Power is in influence. Influence accrues more money. (The way of the world…)
      
      At the moment, the right has a virtual monopoly on talk radio across the nation. I live in the S.F. Bay Area, which is one of the most progressive areas of the country and there is not a single hour (let alone an entire station) of progressive talk radio on the air. I repeat: “not a single hour“! The only place you can find the opinions and discussion of progressive issues is on the internet via podcasts (TV / radio equivalent) and blogs (writing).
      
      Since the “Fairness Doctrine” ended (1987), there has been a steady attempt to push conservative doctrine to the masses via radio (first), TV (second), and now newspapers, with (I believe) increasingly bad results for our country.
      
      Okay, I get down off of my soapbox now… LOL!
      Kevin
      - on March 12, 2019 at 3:39 am | Reply GP Cox
        
        Have a good week, Kevin.
        
        on March 12, 2019 at 3:02 pm | Reply kmabarrett
        
        🙂 — You too, sir…