Unfreedom of the Press
Mark. R. Levin
17 min
7 Key Points
4.5 RateWhat's inside?
Explore the evolution and current state of the American press, highlighting its biases and lack of objectivity in modern journalism.
You'll learn
1. How the US press has changed over time2. How the press's role in society has shifted3. The problem with bias in today's media4. The effect of social media on news reporting5. Why press freedom matters in a democracy6. How to spot fake news and biased sources.Key points
01What's up with the media these days?
Let's talk about the state of the press today. It's not the government or even folks like President Trump who are stifling the press. No, it's the press itself. The journalists and newsrooms of today are their own worst enemy. First, let's get our terms straight. When we say "free press," we're talking about a world where journalists can share information without fear of the government stepping in. The "press" is just a fancy term for all the media organizations that report the news. And "freedom of the press"? That's the idea that the press should be able to do their job without the government getting in the way. The job of the press is to report and analyze information. But what kind of information? What counts as "news"? That's up for debate, and different media outlets might have different answers. A blogger might focus on what's happening in their town, while a TV network might cover news from around the world. The goal of reporting can change too. Some journalists see their job as keeping the government in check, giving a voice to the voiceless, influencing politics, or promoting the common good. But what's "common good"? That's another subjective term that can change depending on who you ask. Now, don't confuse "freedom of the press" with "free speech." Free speech is the right of individuals to say what they want without the government interfering. The press, on the other hand, has a special role in society to report and analyze information, and that role is protected by the idea of press freedom. The internet and social media have changed the game for the press. Now, anyone with an internet connection can report and share information. But this has blurred the lines between professional journalists and everyday folks sharing news, and between news and opinion. Despite these changes, many news outlets seem to have forgotten the basic questions about their role and purpose. These questions aren't being asked or debated enough. Instead, when the press is accused of being biased or partisan, they often defend themselves by saying they're committed to the news and to protecting society from autocratic government. But are they really living up to these claims? According to former journalists Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, good journalism involves a commitment to truth, loyalty to citizens, independence from those they cover, the ability to monitor power independently, providing a forum for public criticism and compromise, and making the news meaningful, interesting, and relevant. But whether today's press lives up to these principles is up for debate.
02Is news just a tool for political activism now?
Mark R. Levin's idea that "News is a form of political and ideological activism" suggests that news isn't just a straightforward report of what's happening. Instead, it's often used to push certain political and ideological beliefs. To get a better handle on this, let's take a trip down memory lane and see how the press has changed over time. About 70 years ago, a group called the Hutchins Commission, or the Commission on Freedom of the Press, took a hard look at the media. This group was started by Henry Luce, the guy who published Time and Life magazines. He wanted to figure out if the freedom of the press was in danger and what role the media should play in a democratic society. The commission's findings, published in 1947, showed that the freedom of the press was indeed at risk for three main reasons. First, the press had become a major tool for mass communication, making it super important to the public. But this growth also meant that fewer people could share their ideas through the press, which limited the range of voices and viewpoints. Second, the commission found that the folks who had the skills and resources to use the press for mass communication weren't really meeting society's needs. This could mean that the news being shared wasn't complete, accurate, or balanced. Third, the people in charge of the press were doing things that society didn't think were okay. If these practices kept up, there was a fear that there would be attempts to regulate or control the press, which would threaten its freedom. The Hutchins Commission warned that the modern press, made up of mass communication agencies, was a new thing. These agencies had the power to either help or hurt discussion and thought. They could promote progress or hold it back. They could uphold or degrade human dignity. They could even accidentally threaten world peace because of their influence. They had the power to twist the importance of news, stir up emotions, create complacency, uphold empty slogans, and misuse powerful words. The commission stressed that in a time when self-destruction was a real possibility, it was super important for people to show self-restraint, moderation, and mutual understanding. But they wondered if the modern media really showed these values. Were they restrained, measured, and moderate? Were they adding to public knowledge and awareness in a way that helped a free society? Or were they more focused on pushing their own personal, political, and progressive biases? Sadly, as Levin points out, many newsrooms and journalists haven't lived up to the standards of their profession. Instead of just reporting on events, they've used the news as a platform for political and ideological activism, which undermines the freedom of the press.
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03How did the press evolve from its early days?
04Is the media in bed with the Democratic Party?
05What's the real danger to press freedom?
06What's the truth about collusion, power abuse, and character?
07Conclusion
About Mark. R. Levin
Mark R. Levin is an American lawyer, author, and radio personality. He is the host of syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show, as well as Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News. Levin worked in the Reagan administration and is the president of the Landmark Legal Foundation.
