It is very disturbing that our current President continues to attempt to delegitimize the free press relentlessly.
In so doing, our President appears to be undermining fundamental rights set forth by our founding fathers.
Because our founders wanted to prevent a repeat of the oppressive leadership of a king, they included the First Amendment in our Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson, himself, fully embraced the need for a free press, when he said, “…were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Throughout American history, our democracy has relied on our free press as a watchdog to protect American citizens from potential and actual abuses of political power.
Beware any leader who states he wants to change the rules under which our free press operates.
Historically, dictators have expanded control over countries by undermining the existing free press as an initial step towards controlling what information the public receives…. a message that, inevitably, results in the profound loss of freedoms.
When our President said, “I’m going to open up our libel laws” (Ft. Worth, Texas rally, 2/26/16), in reference to reporting which he construed to be unfair or negative, he appeared to contradict the intentions of our founding fathers.
During the CPAC Conference (2/24/17), our President said, “…I called the fake news the enemy of the people because they have no sources. They just make ‘em up. They shouldn’t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody’s name.”
Was our President trying to defame the legitimacy of any reporting that might shine a light on any of his actions that may be contrary to our founding fathers’ cherished tenets?
To my knowledge, all states have adopted Shield Laws to allow sources to feel safe when approaching journalists in order to expose societal wrongdoings without fears of retaliation from potentially powerful wrongdoers.
Without Shield Laws’ protections, many important sources (e.g., Watergate’s Deep Throat) integral to an investigation might be hesitant to reveal information to reporters.
Ultimately, Shield Laws exist to protect the public.
If actual names of sources were revealed of those who would offer integral information about any public official’s suspected abuses of power, those sources would be subject to possible retaliation by that public official.
Without Shield Law protections, investigations into public wrongdoings would be stymied and the public good would suffer.
One wonders if our President understands the rationales for both the existence of Shield Laws and our Constitution’s protection of a free press especially, when he makes the aforementioned, quoted assertions.
Life experience has shown that, when an individual wants to diminish the credibility of others who discover something that might embarrass him in some way, that individual may attempt to preempt or diffuse such possible, negative discoveries by using the common tactic of badmouthing potential discoverers beforehand.
It seems that, when our President tries to delegitimize our free press, he is trying to make the public lose faith in the very institution (free press) that helps protect them.
To protect our American citizenry, our free press must remain untethered and, be free to report all factual information it uncovers whether that information unveils any President in a favorable or unfavorable light.
Kathy Rittel
East Williston
