Free To Do What?

The Democrat & Chronicle noted that today is World Press Freedom Day.

The article referred to the fact that a free press is vital to Democracy.

While the D&C's underlying point is correct, I'm sad to say that the D&C and most of our major media outlets fall far short of Jefferson's vision of the press providing the populace with the information it needs to make good decisions about government.

Today, editorial bias seeps into news reporting. The media makes itself part of the story. As an example, the D&C editorial board seeks the opportunity to "play a more active role in how the story ultimately progresses". One only has to read the D&C for a week or so to see that the same "goal" has spilled over into the news pages, as well. College students go to journalism school to "make a difference" rather than to report the news.

Unfortunately, freedom of the press has come to mean that the press is free to criticize the government regarding policies the media doesn't like and to press upon us (the great unwashed) their political and social viewpoints.

After all, they do know what's best for us, and, by God, they are going to force us to accept it.