The role of the press\u2026<\/p>\n
The power of the press\u2026<\/p>\n
The freedom of the press\u2026<\/p>\n
And thus, the problem with the press.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be concise \u2014 respectful, as always, too\u2026<\/p>\n
The role of the press<\/i> in a democratic society is to provide information to ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n
The freedom of the press<\/i> \u2014 declared in the First Amendment \u2014 is the free exercise and right not to be censored. This \u201cFourth Estate\u201d (or \u201cfourth power\u201d)<\/i> as some have historically referred to the press, denotes an additional set of checks and balances that an uncensored press provides for government.<\/p>\n
The power of the press,<\/i> as admirably articulated by Donald A. Ritchie in his 1987 critique of The Power of the Press: The Birth of American Political Reporting<\/i> by Thomas C. Leonard, is \u201cthat time-worn clich\u00e9\u201d that \u201coften eludes definition.\u201d Ritchie \u00a0referred to\u00a0correspondents who “routinely crowed about their power to make and unmake<\/b> the reputations of public men, while at the same time many of them bowed and scraped for patronage and wrote predictably partisan dispatches.\u201d The power of the press is the ability to \u201cmake\u201d or \u201cunmake\u201d any man or woman of their choosing.<\/p>\n
Hence, then the problem with the press<\/i>\u2026<\/p>\n
The \u201cpress\u201d evolved from the printing press, simply referring to what is published or put into print.<\/p>\n
Journalism is something better and more. Emerson College, one of the nation\u2019s top schools for journalism, promotes their degree as follows, \u201cAlthough technology has revolutionized the ways in which we <\/i>share and consume the news,<\/i><\/b> the principles and values that govern journalism remain the same. At Emerson\u2019s Department of Journalism, you\u2019ll learn how to tell stories that increase public understanding and awareness.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So we increase understanding by the sharing and consumption of news.<\/b><\/p>\n Consistent with its etymological definition, \u201cnews\u201d means new information; information means provided facts. That means that news is absent of partiality and bias. So when bias is added to news, news becomes opinion. Opinion and news are not the same thing. The opinions of the editorial page have migrated to the front page, disguised as news.<\/p>\n So question: where do you get your \u201cnews\u201d?<\/p>\n Second question: are you instead listening to opinion? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CNN, FOX, MSNBC\u2026 The Drudge Report, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Examiner\u2026 each (and more)<\/i> is full of opinion. Opinion, as stated, is not news.<\/p>\n Allow me one, brief example \u2014 on a subject the Intramuralist intends to soon address. When the news broke in March that North Korea is now willing to talk to the U.S. about giving up nuclear weapons, I quickly surveyed the immediate \u201cbreaking news\u201d on the three television stations mentioned above. One was glowing; one was glaring; and one was skeptical. Tell me the news, please. We don\u2019t need the glow, glare, nor skepticism \u2014 none of which qualify as news.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The problem with the press is that multiple media offerings insert their bias and still act as if such qualifies as news.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Said Gary Ackerman, the former Democratic congressman from New York: \u201cThe media has changed. We now give broadcast licenses to philosophies instead of people. People get confused and think there is no difference between news and entertainment.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n People get confused between news and entertainment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People get confused between news and opinion.<\/p>\n Intelligent people get confused.<\/p>\n Hence, the problem with the press\u2026<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The role of the press\u2026 The power of the press\u2026 The freedom of the press\u2026 And thus, the problem with the press. Let\u2019s be concise \u2014 respectful, as always, too\u2026 The role of the press in a democratic society is to provide information to ordinary citizens. The freedom of the press \u2014 declared in the … <\/p>\n