The Freedom of the Press is an interesting anomaly of the First Amendment because it doesn’t grant a specific freedom to the individual such as the freedoms of speech and religion do.
Following the American Revolution the “press” was generally a small operation and the only form of mass communication. The amendment to the Constitution was included only to preserve it as a news media for the people — free from the influence and control of government.
Over time, however, the industry gradually came under the influence and control of special interests that turned the media into apologists and propaganda machines for organizations and individuals they support and which or who support them.
In retrospect, the Constitution did not empower those who make management decisions for the business with an additional freedom. Those associated with the business are still ethically compelled to be accountable for the integrity, credibility and objectivity of their product.
It is a travesty when stories are doctored or ignored by deliberate omission of facts for political reasons; by gratuitous and irrelevant information; or by accounts that are fabricated.
Such abuses violate the constitutional right given the media under the Freedom of the Press.
We The People must compel any organization granted a license to operate as a forum of mass communications for the people do so under the U.S. Constitution. Should it violate the intent of its constitutional responsibility, its license should be revoked as it would be for any enterprise that perpetrates a fraud.
Bob Hegamin
Edmonds
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