In today’s world, the press is considered to be the enemy of the public. It can be labeled as liars, manipulators and fake news. We see the press getting crucified for doing their jobs, reporting the news and informing the public. The hate of the press even goes to the extreme. Photojournalists are getting harassed by the public and even thrown in jail by police. Little do most people know that the press are not breaking any laws. In fact, a little document protects the press to do their jobs. This document is the First Amendment of the Untied States Constitution, which states the following:
Amendment I of the United States Constitution: 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 what does this all mean? It means that the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely.”
This is what makes America so different from other countries. We have a constitution that allows the press freedom to ask hard questions and document history. Without freedom of the press, “we the people” are no longer in control, but it is “we the government” that in control. This is why freedom of the press is so important and why the press should not be looked down as scum but as heroes. If it wasn’t for two journalist investigating and asking questions, Richard Nixon may have never been impeached for the Watergate scandal. The Watergate example shows how essential freedom of the press is because without press right’s there are no citizens rights. History shows us this when Hitler came into power in 1933, where he restricted what the press in Germany could report on. Restricting the press quickly became restricting of free thought of citizens in Germany. So if you have a problem with the press and want to take away the rights of the press, just remember this is how Nazi Germany started. Once the government takes away rights of the press, they will take away the rights of the American Citizens.
In today’s world we see the press getting verbally abused, physically attacked and thrown in jail for doing their jobs. Even the Trump administration is calling them “fake news” and censoring them to ask only certain questions. This is how it started in Nazi Germany, and we all know what that lead up to….the Holocaust. No I’m not saying Trump is Hitler and I’m not saying he is going to lead America to a Holocaust. What I am saying is that the censoring the press was the starting point of taking away basic freedom. So the next time you see the press getting silence just remember your freedom of speech will come next. Always look back at history and always stand up for not just press rights, but your rights as an Citizen of the Untied States.
The Reef Report 