Opinion: Precarious world for press freedom
By John Diaz, San Francisco Chronicle
The practice of journalism has rarely been more critical — or at greater risk — in the United States. Never before has a president of this nation so aggressively attempted to delegitimize and even threaten established news organizations that produce stories that undermine the narrative he is trying to create.
Public distrust of the media did not begin with the election of Donald Trump, but his constant drumbeat of “fake news” and claims of fabrication have only galvanized it.
Yet through the fog of Trump’s rhetorical war, several national news organizations — most notably the Washington Post and New York Times — have been doing a great public service with their investigative reporting of the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election and the many false statements from the Trump White House. If left to the dispatches issued from Trump and his surrogates, Americans would be under the mistaken impression that his son Donald Jr.’s summer 2016 meeting with the Russians was all about adoptions, millions of people voted illegally in 2016, the U.S. murder rate was the highest it’s been in nearly a half century, and his inauguration crowd was the largest in history.
Dear Kae:
A Free Press is a symbol of a Free People. The wisdom of the Founding Fathers in stating in the Bill of Rights that Congress shall make no law abridging the Freedom of the Press has served our Country well and is a pillar of our Democracy.
However, Mr. John Diaz’s article has nothing to do about the Freedom of the Press; it is simply a veiled attempt to censor President Trump. I can remember the day after the election, while the headlines of most national paper declared Trump the winner; the San Francisco Chronicle’s headline was “holding our breath” Is the Chronicle still holding its breath?
No one is suggesting that the Government jail reporters or close down newspapers. I have read of no Supreme Court decision suggesting we suspend the First Amendment. What we should be concerned about is the concentration of economic power in this Country and the control of the Press by a few.
If Mr. Diaz does not support an action of President Trump then he has the vehicle, the SF Chronicle, to provide its readers with a reasoned fact supported article to rebut him. If Mr. Diaz, or other like minded members of the Press, can’t accept the heat of criticism, then he should get out of the kitchen.
Let’s remember the entire text of the First Amendment “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.”
So if James Madison, the author of the Bill of Rights, listed these rights in order of importance, before he listed the provision concerning the Freedom of the Press, he wrote that Congress shall make no abridging the Freedom of Speech. President Trump is exercising his right to free speech. Suggesting that President Trump should be censored is a attempt to censor us all.
Bruce Grego
The “generosity” of Mr. Greco towards President Trump is commendable. However, once again, the only one responsible for the opinion that Mr. Trump is a threat to Free Speech is Mr. Trump. He has lied repeatedly and has actually said that the press is the enemy of the people. He has also said that the press should be “thrown in prison”. Your claim that he has not is dishonest. His constant twitter feuds with anyone that disagrees with him shows his disdain for our Constitution. No matter how you perceive his “freedom of speech”, the Constitution is fairly clear that everyone has the same rights to free speech. You should know that. No one is attempting to censor the president, it is he who is attempting to censor and delegitimize the press. Clearly, it is he who has the bully pulpit and is abusing it.
To paraphrase your comment, if the president can’t take the heat, he should get out of the kitchen. Of all the people in the United States who should be setting an example, it is the President.