“As long as a journalist tells the truth, in conscience and fairness, it is not his job to worry about consequences. The truth is never as dangerous as a lie in the long run. I truly believe the truth sets men free.” Ben Bradlee**, The Washington Post
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. First Amendment US Constitution
I just purchased a twelve-month subscription to The Washington Post for $99.
That is approximately 27 cents per day.
I think that is a small price to pay to be an informed citizen and to support journalism.
Long live the free press!
Please note:
I reference Wikipedia as a starting point for further reading. There are many sources that contribute to our understanding of events.
Reading in depth helps me to develop a broader and balanced view of past and current world events.
Lori Greer in Portland 
Most people know how to read, but it’s shocking how many don’t read.
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I agree. I find reading generally more satisfying than movies. The mind is so powerful when it comes to painting scenes.
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There are very few movies that are better than the book. The only two that are the exceptions (that I know of) are Dr. Zhivago, and Jaws). Apologies to Pasternak and Benchley.
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I met Ben Bradlee. He was considered by many in the field to be one of the best. He stood by Woodward and Bernstein when many others editors would have not. I too believe in freedom of the press. Regretfully, I don’t believe tactile information will survive much longer. Sigh.
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I think he was a good man. I want to read his books. His behavior in the Watergate scandal was brave.
How was your meeting with him?
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Through the years I met many noteworthy newspaper men and women (and some not so noteworthy.) That was Losers profession. I remember that he had been an unapologetic smoker like Loser. He quit but Loser never did. He was straight up and could be a curmudgeon but he was top flight and well respected. Can’t say the same for my ex.
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I am so sorry that you had to put up with your ex-husband. No one should have to deal with that kind of situation.
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I know. When one of your own children asks you why you stayed with him…something is wrong. Sigh.
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Leaving a bad situation is very complicated and much tougher than one would suspect. I think we do the best we can in difficult relationships.
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Yes. I’m free now and although it’s not how I wanted to spend the last years of my life…that’s my lot. (As you well know.)
It was my choice but my heart aches for you.
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Washington Post, are you sure they will tell you the truth? Like CNN, the NY Times, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX.
If they all say the same thing, I don’t believe them. And they all say the same thing.
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I follow various news sources including including international ones in an effort to get unbiased news. Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it!
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We are now the only folks on our cul de sac who still subscribe to a daily newspaper. No wonder the last presidential election happened as it did. Most people only read slogans and understand nothing. That’s not me making stuff up – very few people read a book once they are out of school. Getting news from Facebook and Twitter is like getting nutrition from ketchup. Tragic and frightening.
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I admire your support of the free press – even though in my country the little ‘news’ they put in our Prime weekly paper seems more like a tolerated inconvenience they put up with in their real job of selling and publishing advertising materiel. 😦
love.
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Indeed, I believe democracy does die in darkness.
Whether we are at the beginning of a contentious 4 or 8 years between the White House and the news media or a cataclysmic turning point in American history remains to be seen.
But, in the face of such adversity, honest news gatherers—be they liberal, conservative, one person hunched over a laptop or an international conglomerate in a skyscraper—must defend themselves as an institution with its own formal and informal checks and balances on other American institutions, most notably government and business.
To do this effectively, the news media needs unite with a large-scale outreach campaign to re-establish the credibility it desperately needs from American citizens and that the citizens need from the news media. Journalists must show the administration, the American people and the rest of the world that they will pursue the truth and will not be intimidated or quiet. While campaigns and slogans from individual media are positive steps, a larger, united campaign would be much more effective. It should focus on several goals.
Primarily, explain why the First Amendment and freedom of the press are essential in a thriving democracy. Themes should include: government transparency, accessibility and accountability; real news versus fake news; critical thinking; freedom from intimidation; and other related issues. The campaign should use traditional mass media (television, newspapers, radio, billboards, bus boards, direct mail, etc.) and social media with a consistent logo, style and messages. The message should be straightforward and bold (e.g. “TRUTH IS OUR DUTY” or “PRESS FOR THE TRUTH” [if available]).
Today’s professional journalists have solid educations; understand their subject matter; seek out multiple, reliable sources; fact check; accept oversight from experienced supervisors and will correct mistakes. Furthermore, freedom of the press is worthless if not tied inextricably to an ethical and moral obligation to be accurate and truthful.
Are journalists perfect? Of course not. And people need to remember that journalist almost always pay a price for their mistakes and misrepresentations.
So, secondly, the industry should identify reporters and news organizations that adhere to a code of ethics and professional standards as outlined by several news associations and organizations, displaying such designations just as other professionals do (e.g. CPAs).
Thirdly, journalists need to share with the public a basic, agreed-upon industry-wide “fact-check” system displaying the accuracy of stories. It should focus on national, state and local officials and, importantly, the news media itself.
Overall, though, the nation is best served a steady flow of accurate news stories that are fair to everyone yet fearful of no one.
Freedom of the press was wisely included in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. That freedom must not change because the very Constitution which enables it also relies on it for its continued existence.
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